NFA Expands Efforts to Reduce Healthcare Barriers

ANAHEIM, Calif. (Oct. 30, 2009)—In addition to the PAINWeek 2009 conference held last month in Las Vegas, Nev., the National Fibromyalgia Association has been involved in other recent efforts designed to assist medical professionals with the diagnosis and treatment of fibromyalgia.

“It often takes two to five years for fibromyalgia patients to receive a diagnosis and it is equally challenging for them to obtain appropriate treatment,” says NFA Executive Director Rae Marie Gleason. “Our goal is reduce these barriers to patient care through healthcare provider education.”

Below is an overview of recent efforts aimed at improving access to care for fibromyalgia patients.

Medical Education Program for OB/GYNs

Renowned fibromyalgia experts Patrick Wood, MD (left) and Robert Bennett, MD (center) with the distinguished OB/GYN specialist Daniel Mishell, Jr., MD at the OB/GYN symposium.

OB/GYNs often serve as primary care physicians for women with fibromyalgia. The NFA—in partnered with the University of Wisconsin-Madison, home to the largest academic CME unit in the country, and MedPro Communications, Inc., which provides medical education to healthcare providers around the world—presented “The Role of the OB/GYN in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Fibromyalgia” on Oct. 3 in Universal City, Calif. The two-hour program, designed specifically for healthcare professionals in the field of obstetrics and gynecology, will also be webcasted. This CME opportunity will also be available as an online webcast program for the next year.

Barriers to Recognition and Diagnosis of Fibromyalgia

This simulcast, available via satellite, the Internet, a teleconference and an archived webcast, was presented on Oct. 7. Jointly sponsored by the University of Michigan Medical School and the NFA in partnership with OptumHealth Education, the program focused on the components of appropriate detection and recognition of fibromyalgia, as well as barriers to diagnosing fibromyalgia in the primary care setting. Healthcare providers who participate in this program will be given information on an educational, text-messaging program to share with their patients.

American Academy of Pain Management

NFA Research Assistant Jordan Aquino presented his research findings at the American Academy of Pain Management conference. He is pictured with Rae Marie Gleason (left) and Jessie Jones, PhD, director of the Fibromyalgia Research and Education Center at California State University, Fullerton.

NFA Executive Director Rae Marie Gleason and Research Assistant Jordan Aquino participated in the American Academy of Pain Management’s 20th Annual Clinical Meeting, held Oct. 8-11 in Phoenix, Ariz. The conference featured more than 50 scientific presentations, symposia, hands-on courses, poster presentations and more. Representatives of the NFA staffed an exhibit booth at the conference and handed out a variety of literature, including a disk that contained a booklet and video on procedural guidelines for administrating the Manual Tender Point Survey (MTPS). The MTPS, based on the 1990 American College of Rheumatology tender point protocol for fibromyalgia, is a technique used to diagnosis fibromyalgia.