Statement of Need

Fibrosing interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) encompass a heterogeneous group of disorders such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), progressive pulmonary fibrosis, and systemic autoimmune rheumatic disease-associated ILD, that are often progressive and associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The clinical presentation of fibrosing ILDs can be subtle and often overlaps with other respiratory ailments, leading to delays in diagnosis and appropriate interventions that negatively impact patients. Patients with SARDs are at increased risk of ILD, requiring routine screening with available diagnostics. A robust understanding of at-risk patients, the distinctive signs and symptoms, coupled with insights into the epidemiology and natural history of these disorders, is essential for clinicians to effectively recognize and differentiate these conditions. Although treatments for fibrosing ILDs have been developed, findings from studies utilizing US registry data have indicated that only 58% to 70% of IPF patients receive antifibrotic therapies. Effective management of fibrosing ILDs necessitates a multidisciplinary approach, demanding proficiency in the most up-to-date diagnostic techniques, therapeutic interventions, and supportive care strategies.

Target Audience

This activity is intended for academic and community rheumatologists, pulmonologists, radiologists, APPs in these settings, and other members of the multidisciplinary teams treating patients with or at risk for fibrosing ILDs across the US.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:

• Apply evidence-based guidelines for the interpretation of diagnostic tools, such as pulmonary function tests (PFTs) and high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT), in the evaluation of fibrosing ILDs
• Evaluate current and emerging antifibrotic therapies for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF), and systemic autoimmune rheumatic disease-associated ILD (SARD-ILD) in terms of efficacy, adverse events (AEs), and patient suitability
• Design patient-centered care plans that integrate current and emerging pharmacologic interventions to alleviate the clinical burden associated with fibrosing ILDs
• Develop effective strategies for interdisciplinary collaboration in the management of fibrosing

Method of Participation

To receive credit, learners are required to complete a baseline assessment; design, develop, and implement an action plan using our automated platform; view the online interventions; and return after 30 days to report progress in making system-level changes. A thorough response to the reflection questionnaire on your involvement in the quality improvement activity is also required for meaningful participation. A certificate will be available upon completion of the reflection questionnaire. There is no fee to participate in the activity or for the generation of the certificate.

ABIM credit will be submitted to ABIM within 30 days of completion.

For questions, contact Laurie Novoryta at Lnovoryta@achlcme.org.

Accreditation and Credit Designation Statement

In support of improving patient care, Rush University Medical Center is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

This activity is being presented without bias and with commercial support.

Rush University Medical Center designates this Internet Enduring Material for a maximum of x.x AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the learner to earn credit toward the CME of the American Board of Surgery’s Continuous Certification program. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit learner completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABS credit.

Physician assistants (PAs) and nurse practitioners (NPs) may participate in this educational activity and earn a certificate of completion as AAPA and AANP accept AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ through their reciprocity agreements.

Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to x.x MOC points in the American Board of Internal Medicine’s (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. Participants will earn MOC points equivalent to the amount of CME credits claimed for the activity. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC points.

By providing your ABIM Diplomate number and date of birth, you consent to have ACHL and/or our educational partners submit your participation in this activity to the ABIM through the ACCME PARS system. ABIM credit will be submitted to PARS each month.

Disclosures

It is the policy of Rush University Medical Center and the Office of Interprofessional Continuing Education (ICPE) to ensure that its CE activities are independent, free of commercial bias and beyond the control of persons or organizations with an economic interest in influencing the content of CE. All individuals in control of educational content must disclose all financial relationships with ineligible companies in the past 24 months. An ineligible company is an entity whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. All conflicts of interest, including potential ones, for individuals in control of educational content are mitigated prior to the planning, implementation, or evaluation of the continuing education activity.

The following financial relationships have been provided:

Shervin Assassi, MD, MS
Consultant: Abbvie, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, CSL Behring, Merck, Mitsubishi Tanabe, Takeda, TeneoFour
Research Grant: Abbvie, aTyr
Speakers Bureau: Boehringer Ingelheim

Mark Yoder, MD
No financial relationships to disclose.

Staff and Reviewer Disclosures

Rush University Medical Center and the Office of Interprofessional Continuing Education staff members, ACHL staff members, and others involved with the planning, development, and review of the content for this activity have no relevant affiliations or financial relationships to disclose.

Disclaimer

The content for this activity was developed independently of any ineligible company. All materials are included with permission. The opinions expressed are those of the faculty and are not to be construed as those of the publisher or grantor(s).

This educational activity was planned and produced in accordance with the ACCME Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Recommendations involving clinical medicine in a continuing medical education (CME/CE) activity must be based on evidence that is accepted within the profession of medicine as adequate justification for their indications and contraindications in the care of patients. All scientific research referred to, reported, or used in CME/CE in support or justification of a patient care recommendation must conform to the generally accepted standards of experimental design, data collection, and analysis.

This CME/CE activity might describe the off-label, investigational, or experimental use of medications and/or devices that may exceed their FDA-approved labeling. Physicians should consult the current manufacturers’ prescribing information for these products. Rush University Medical Center and ACHL require the speaker to disclose that a product is not labeled for the use under discussion.

Discussion of scientific information on unapproved uses (SIUU), off-label, investigational, or experimental drug/device use: nerandomilast, BMS-986278, inhaled treprostinil, TTI-101, deupirfenidone, and HZN-825.

Acknowledgement

This educational activity is presented in collaboration with Rush University Medical Center and Academy for Continued Healthcare Learning (ACHL).

Supported by an educational grant from Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.