Rhode Island Naturopathic Physician Continuing Education

• Gain insight into the different types of pain
• Differentiate different sources of spinal pain
• Summarize the societal and clinical challenges of the pain patient
• Describe the difference between acute and chronic pain
• Provide an initial appreciation of alternative treatment options
• Understand the importance of chiropractic principles with the pain patient

• Determine why communication is imperative in clinical encounters
• Classify rights and responsibilities of the patient -provider partnership
• Recognize barriers and benefits regarding improved communication
• Apply numerous strategies to improve and solidify patient interactions
• Summarize how to fix the system so providers will provide better quality visits

• Identify the ways your conscious or unconscious bias toward patient characteristics may enter the clinical relationship
• Outline ways to improve your clinical communication with patients who are elderly, poor or ethnic minorities.
• Distinguish male and female patient communication styles and plan what to do when your patient wants a different gender provider
• Compare the way Jewish, Irish, Italian, and other cultures present differently as patients and prepare your communication style appropriately
• Internalize the seven ideal interpersonal traits patients want in their health care providers

• Recognize deceptive behaviors from other people and integrate these skills
• Use tips garnered from former CIA officers to separate truth from lies
• Determine motivations for patients to lie to health care providers
• Strategize ways to avoid being lied to by your patients and staff
• Assess the consequences of lying and how it compromises clinical relationships

• Explain the Four Habits of Highly Effective Clinicians
• Show the payoffs for each of the habits and provide examples
• Demonstrate how to avoid “Door Knob Concerns” and uncover hidden problems
• Specify barriers to patient communication and how to overcome them
• Describe action steps to incorporate better communication habits into practice immediately

• Modify explanations about risks, harms and benefits to avoid miscommunication to patients
• Apply research concepts such as sensitivity and specificity to outcomes communications
• Identify weak spots in clinical trials with regard to benefits and harms
• Implement the best practitioner action to build trust in patients
• Discover strategies for better communicating with low functional health literacy patients

Hour 1

• Discover what primitive reflexes are and why we have them
• Understand the various possible causes of retained primitive reflexes in a child
• Outline common questions that would suggest retention of primitive reflexes
• Identify and assess eight primitive reflexes that can be easily evaluated by a doctor of chiropractic, specifically the Moro, Grasp, Spinal Galant, Rooting, Asymmetrical Tonic Neck, Symmetrical Tonic Neck, Tonic Labyrinthine, and the Landau reflexes.

Hour 2

• Further identify and assess the remaining of the eight primitive reflexes not covered in the first hour
• Detect the presence or absence of specific primitive reflexes
• Recognize the need for intervention when a retained primitive reflex is demonstrated by a patient
• Prescribe a specific course of treatment for each of the eight primitive reflexes if they are determined to be retained

• Describing hormones and their functions.
• Explaining how hormones secreted by anterior and posterior pituitary glands affect diseases and their treatment.
• Describing the role of the thyroid gland and its replacements and antagonistic medications.
• Discussing forms of steroids and corticosteroids and their role in treating disorders.
• Describing the role of antidiabetic agents and adjunctive agents in treating diabetes mellitus (DM).
• Describing role of glucose and glycogen in maintaining homeostasis.
• Providing patient education for compliance with medications used to treat diseases and conditions of the endocrine system.

• Explaining the difference between ophthalmic and otic preparations.
• Recognizing ophthalmic and otic medications and their uses.
• Describing drugs used in the treatment of ototoxicity and vertigo.
• Describing how to store ophthalmic and otic preparations to prevent their being inadvertently interchanged.
• Providing patient education for compliance with medications used to treat diseases and conditions of the eye and ear.

• Describing how topical medications are absorbed into skin.
• Explaining why some topical medications may have systemic effects.
• Discussing various classes of medications used to treat dermatologic conditions.
• Describing general properties of dermatologic preparations, both legend and over-the-counter (OTC), and their  indications.
• Defining and naming typical topical keratolytics, acne preparations, ectoparasiticidal agents, and agents for alopecia.
• Providing patient education for compliance with medications used to treat diseases and conditions of the skin.

• Describing causes and symptoms of joint and muscle pain.
• Discussing therapy for osteoporosis.
• Explaining classes of medications used to treat musculoskeletal conditions.
• Describing how muscle relaxants affect the body and appropriate patient education needed for patient safety.
• Identifying medications used for arthritis.
• Providing patient education for compliance with medications used to treat diseases and conditions of the musculoskeletal system.

• Describing how medications move through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract to be absorbed for the body’s use.
• Discussing medications used for prophylaxis in mouth and tooth disorders and as therapeutics for mouth diseases.
• Explaining actions of medications used for stomach and gallbladder conditions.
• Describing agents used for treatment of hepatitis B and C.
• Describing actions of pancreatic enzymes, antifatulents, antidiarrheals, carminatives, cathartics, and laxatives.
• Describing how anti-inflammatory agents are used with large bowel conditions.
• Discussing preparations used for anorectal disorders.
• Explaining proper choice and use of medications for intestinal parasites, including the needed prophylaxis to prevent recurrence.
• Discussing drugs used for appetite suppression and their side effects.
• Providing patient education for compliance with medications used to treat diseases and conditions of the gastrointestinal system.

• Briefly discussing the respiratory tract as a source for internal and external respirations.
• Describing the effects of antihistamines and decongestants and the use of nasal preparations with respiratory conditions.
• Briefly explaining the need for corticosteroids in acute and chronic respiratory tract diseases and associated side effects of long-term therapy.
• Discussing mucolytics, expectorants, and antitussives and their effects on respiratory secretions.
• Explaining medicinal inhibition of influenza.
• Describing medications for respiratory syncytial virus.
• Providing patient education for compliance with medications used to treat diseases and conditions of the respiratory system.

• Discussing specific electrolytes needed to achieve homeostasis and to balance extracellular and intracellular fluids.
• Describing how and what antiinfectives and antiseptics are used for urinary tract infections.
• Explaining the role of urinary tract analgesics and antispasmodics in treatment of urinary tract conditions.
• Discussing enuresis and medications used for treatment.
• Discussing medications used for treating an overactive bladder (OAB).
• Providing patient education for compliance with medications used to treat diseases and conditions of the urinary system.

• Construct examination/radiographic criteria for Osteochondritis Dissecans
• Dissect the elbow as it relates to lateral epicondylitis
• Develop a diagnostic and treatment approach for adhesive capsulitis
• Review possible causes of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration
• Create a list of differential diagnoses of foot pain

• Develop an understanding of shoulder anatomy and motion as they pertain to diagnosis and treatment of the injured shoulder
• Review examination techniques relative to diagnosis of injury in the overhead athlete
• Review the characteristics and diagnosis of shoulder injuries common to overhead athletes
• Understand the functional anatomy of joint and the classification of traumatic injuries of the acromioclavicular joint
• Develop understanding of the mechanisms, examination, diagnosis, radiography and treatment of common acromioclavicular joint injuries

• Identify common causes of patellofemoral syndrome
• Understand knee mechanics relative to patellofemoral syndrome
• Differentially diagnose patellofemoral syndrome from other knee conditions
• Define an appropriate treatment program for patellofemoral syndrome

• Identify common causes of shoulder syndrome
• Understand functional mechanics of the shoulder relative to impingement syndrome
• Differentially diagnose shoulder impingement from other shoulder conditions
• Define an appropriate treatment program for impingement syndrome.

• Identify common risk factors and causes for CTS
• Define tests and examination procedures to diagnose CTS
• List the common conditions important in the differential diagnosis of CTS
• Develop a chiropractic treatment plan for CTS

• Understand the use of plain film and advanced imaging for patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Identify conservative treatments for Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Discuss supplements relative to alleviating Rheumatoid Arthritis symptoms as well as other treatment additions to the patient's drug regimen
• Provide an overview of the rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis and traditional treatments

• Understand the general features of congestive heart failure, a condition which currently affects 4.9 million Americans
• Determine physical examination and diagnostic imaging findings in patients with congestive heart failure
• Discuss treatment, including conservative management, for congestive heart failure patients
• Discuss conditions commonly associated with congestive heart failure

• Define the classifications of Breast cancer and compare the stage
• List some of the major risk factors for Breast Cancer
• List some of the screening techniques for the detection of Breast Cancer
• Discuss some main options in evaluating breast cancer
• List some of the treatment options that are available for women with a genetic predisposition for Breast Cancer

• List some of the risk factors for low back injuries in the work place
• List the classes of low back etiologies and describe some of the spinal diseases that may cause low back syndrome exacerbation
• List some of the protocols for documenting and managing repetitive stress type injuries and low back pain and describe some of the factors to consider when documenting
• List some of the clinical manifestations of pain
• Describe some of the orthopedic tests that may be utilized in the examination for low back pain
• List some treatment options for Low back injuries

• Relate relatively common but sometimes challenging patient cases
• Explain diagnostic and therapeutic considerations in thyroid disease
• Give examples of diagnostic and therapeutic considerations in drug toxicity
• Describe diagnostic and therapeutic considerations in diabetic neuropathy
• Demonstrate diagnostic and therapeutic considerations in vitamin deficiency

• Summarize premenstrual syndrome, its diagnosis, causes and natural therapies
• Understand premenstrual dysphoric disorder, its diagnosis, causes and natural therapies
• Outline polycystic ovarian syndrome, its diagnosis, causes and natural therapies
• Illustrate menopause, its diagnosis, causes and natural therapies
• Discuss nutritional support for womens health

• Differentiate between premenstrual disorder, menopause and perimenopause
• Identify the causes of Estrogen Dominance in the typical patient for patient education
• Assess hormone levels and diagnosis with saliva and blood spot testing with reputable labs listed
• Observe recorded changes in actual patient histories with treatments and results
• Apply products listed by Brand Names to use for treatments, with suggested dosages

• Diagnose Fibromyalgia and Discuss the modern research that contradicts older ideas about the syndrome, separating myth from fact
• Obtain an accurate diagnosis and differentiate from other syndromes
• Recognize prescription medication side effects
• Apply appropriate movement and exercise therapy
• Select the best alternative and holistic treatments and design a treatment plan
• Treat using integrated care, including physical, emotional and spiritual support as needed

• Detect Intracellular inflammation and its effects on the entire body
• Define Oxidation and illustrate the importance of quality anti-oxidants
• Discover affordable tests you can easily run in your office to determine levels of oxidative stress
• Recall what causes free radicals and discover what resolves the problem
• Summarize environmental toxins and their realistic effects on the health of your patients, your family and you
• Show that Insulin resistance is yesterday’s news, now it’s Hormonal resistance Analyze weight loss resistance and how to correct it
• Analyze lifestyle choices that "pull the trigger" for epigenetics and how to reverse it
• Describe the new catch-all term: Mitochondrial diseases. Formerly known as “no known cause, no known cure”
• Summarize Methylation, Methyl donors, and its depletion
• Examine cell membrane impermeability and its effect on your paradigm of health
• Determine the role of antioxidants, fatty acids, and vitamin D: what you should use in your clinic now to get people well

• Utilize Salivary pH readings to determine the need for Fatty Acid Supplementation and dietary modification
• Discuss Candidiasis with your patient and interpret the results of their home self-test
• Determine if your patient is best served with a vegetarian lifestyle, and if not, measures you can take to improve their health
• Interpret the Zinc Tally test for your patient and prescribe a treatment plan that can greatly improve the overall health and longevity of your patient
• Measure specific blood pressure readings to demonstrate adrenal hypofunction
• Formulate your treatment plan based upon your results Discover an affordable and simple test for Sick Building Syndrome, Toxic Mold and other toxic loads
• Rate a patient’s need for calcium and mineral supplementation with the easily-performed Tissue Calcium Test
• Identify important underlying factors in weight loss or gain with Barne’s Thyroid Test
• Diagnosis an underlying deficiency that contributes to immune dysfunction, metabolic dysfunction, weight gain, skin rashes and more
• Quickly determine a definitive need for hydrochloric acid supplementation in every patient with gastric upset

• Define Genetic Testing and name some of the components in the gene that are being examined.
• List some laboratory techniques used in genetic testing.
• Name some types of genetic tests and explain the purpose of the tests. 
• Describe some of the methods of obtaining gene samples for laboratory analysis
• List some of the limitations and risks for genetic testing
• Discuss some of the ethical issues in genetic testing