Course Chairman:
Jerome Schofferman, MD

Course Description:
Most patients with acute and subacute low back and neck pain are managed with rehabilitation, interventions, and medical spine care (RIMS). Patients requiring surgery also benefit from RIMS pre and post surgery.  Although rehabilitation medicine is critical for the successful recovery of their patients, many spine specialists have received little or no formal training or continuing education in RIMS. The Rehabilitation Medicine for Spine Surgeons and Specialists course fills that training gap.

This evidence based training is designed to:

• Present the rationale and specifics of RIMS options for patients with acute and chronic low back and neck pain at each stage of spine illness.
• Demonstrate that in the early stages, most patients can be treated without a specific diagnosis using the history and physical examination, and without the need for imaging or injections.
• Debate the comparative value of specific versus nonspecific exercises for acute low back pain (LBP).
• Illustrate why all types of physical therapy are not equal.
• Expound the importance of proficiently writing a specific rehabilitation prescription.
• Provide guidelines on how to monitor a patient’s progress in rehabilitation.
• Review the pros and cons of medication management, and evaluate which medications are most effective and appropriate at each stage of spine illness.
• Elaborate on the role of injections for pain control, diagnostic purposes, and chronic pain management in selected patients who are not improving.
• Discuss the rehabilitation options post spine surgery to maximize the chances for optimum outcomes.

Credit:
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essentials and Standards of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME). The North American Spine Society is accredited with commendation by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians and takes responsibility for the content, quality and scientific integrity of this CME activity. NASS designates this educational activity for a maximum of 8.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.