We welcome you to experience our highly practical Internal Medicine update given by exceptional teaching clinicians in spectacular Rocky Mountain National Park. The 45th Annual Internal Medicine Program is designed to meet the expectations of busy practitioners looking for a sharply focused review of how to practically manage the most challenging cases facing internists today.  This conference showcases 25 of the most experienced and effective speakers whose direct charge is to address those areas in internal medicine that are most rapidly changing in an evidence-based manner.  The topics were chosen by previous registrants and community physicians who know and understand the learning needs of busy clinicians.

This year’s program will sharpen clinical skills in Rheumatology, Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Cardiology, Pulmonary, Renal Disease, Gastroenterology, Geriatrics, Hospital Medicine, Neurology, Psychiatry, ENT, Women’s Health, Urology, Orthopedics, and Alternative Medicine.  Hands-on workshops in Oral Medicine, Orthopedics, and Ethics will facilitate the practice acquisition of necessary clinical skills. Plenty of time for questions and answers is afforded in the Ask the Professors sessions.  

Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course participants should be able to:

1. Develop the necessary clinical skills to evaluate and manage osteoarthritis, post bariatric surgery patients, erectile dysfunction,  acute kidney injury, recurrent C-difficile colitis, TIAs, and neck, shoulder, back, and hip pain.    

2. Identify the signs of early onset dementia and know the available new treatments available for early dementia, severe osteoporosis, peripheral neuropathies, and smoking cessation and to also recognize the link between periodontal disease and systemic disease.

3. Implement new evidence-based approaches to dysphasia, GERD, hyperlipidemia, Type 2 DM, low bone density, pulmonary hypertension, prostate cancer, and the use of herbal medicines.   

4. Recognize common ethical dilemmas as well as appropriately and effectively approach to the evaluation of abnormal ANA profiles, abnormal pap smears, and bipolar/cyclothymic mood disorders.   

5. Perform the initial evaluation and develop a diagnostic differential when an echocardiogram report is read as ‘pulmonary hypertension’.

6. Post-surgically manage patients who have undergone gastric bypass surgery and be aware of the complications that can arise after surgery

Proposed Performance Measures that could be implemented at the end of this program in practitioner’s offices include:

1. The percentage of diabetic patients >65 who meet the target A1C goal

2. The percentage of patients who smoke who have received appropriate counseling

3. The percentage of post bariatric patients who have received the appropriate laboratory evaluation