Vermont Naturopathic Physician Continuing Education

• Explain the origin and pathophysiology of gout
• Understand how to prevent and monitor gout
• Examine gout on plain film
• Determine the clinical presentation of gout
• Describe the differences between the crystal arthritides on plain film

• Describe the patients that are at risk for developing osteoarthritis
• Summarize the pathophysiology behind the disease
• Discuss what osteoarthritis looks like on plain film and which joints are most likely affected
• Discuss the use of advanced imaging in osteoarthritis
• Present the research on many conservative treatment options including: physiotherapy, physical therapy/exercise, diet, and acupuncture

• Describe the anatomy of the disc and what causes the disc herniation
• Discuss the clinical presentation and who is at risk for a disc herniation
• Explain the diagnostic imaging findings for the disc herniation patient
• Evaluate the treatment options for disc herniation patients

• Assess the clinical presentation and diagnostic imaging procedure for vertebral compression fractures
• Discuss the use of plain film, CT, MRI, and DEXA
• Discuss treatments for vertebral compression fractures
• Identify other causes of vertebral fractures
• Identify other fractures besides vertebral fractures

• This contains all courses with the educational objectives listed from Xray 129 to Xray 134

• Summarize the current literature on fracture prevention
• Discuss diagnostic imaging and treatment of hip fractures
• Evaluate common lower extremity fractures, including stress fractures
• Discuss common upper extremity fractures, including the Colle's fracture and stress fractures
• Demonstrate knowledge of fractures in special populations, including adolescents and the developmentally disabled

• Evaluate the plain film images of upper and lower extremity dislocations
• Determine the mechanism of action and clinical presentation for upper and lower extremity dislocations
• Summarize the treatment options for the different upper and lower extremity dislocation
• Use assessment tools to determine treatment outcomes for extremity dislocations

• Determine the risk of MRI procedures and gadolinium contrast agents with respect to children
• Discuss the consequences of ionizing radiation in plain film, computed tomography, nuclear medicine, and fluoroscopy
• Demonstrate procedures to lessen the consequences of diagnostic imaging and discuss alternatives to the riskier modalities

• Determine the risks of ionizing radiation on the fetus
• Demonstrate the usefulness and limitations of ultrasound with regards to the pregnant woman
• Analyze the appropriate usage of magnetic resonance imaging in fetal diagnoses

• This contains all courses with the educational objectives listed from Xray 133 through Xray 144

• Demonstrating the differences between pediatric fractures and adult fractures
• Looking at the red flags for reporting non-accidental trauma (child abuse)
• Identifying fractures in children with osteopenia
• Discussing common upper extremity and lower extremity fractures
• Assessing proper protocol in imaging pediatric fractures, namely the use of plain film, ultrasound, MRI and CT

• Identifying bone and joint uses for PET
• Discussing neurological uses of PET, focusing on Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis
• Demonstrating the oncology use of PET
• Comparing PET with other diagnostic imaging modalities

• Determine the skeletal manifestations of neurofibromatosis and Paget’s disease
• Assess the diagnostic features of someone with neurofibromatosis or Paget’s disease
• Identify benign and malignant tumors commonly associated with neurofibromatosis and Paget’s disease
• Discuss the pathophysiology of neurofibromatosis and Paget’s disease

• Order proper diagnostic imaging for the lumbar spine
• Determine appropriate imaging for various pediatric musculoskeletal complaints
• Use plain film imaging for extremity complaints
• Determine what advanced imaging is appropriate for different extremity pathology

• Identify common causes of back pain
• Assess pro and con of different imaging modalities related to back pain
• Identify imaging features that may relate to back pain
• Develop imaging strategy for back pain

• Recognize normal bony and soft tissue anatomy of the upper cervical spine.
• Describe the direct and indirect signs of cervical trauma.
• Identify the more common mimics to cervical spine trauma.
• Summarize specific traumatic conditions affecting the upper cervical spine and their imaging findings.
• Assess which traumatic conditions of the upper cervical spine are stable, which are unstable, and how to manage each.

• Determine the diagnostic imaging findings consistent with a diagnosis of emphysema
• Discuss the plain film findings of congestive heart failure and conservative treatment options for these patients
• Determine the stage of sarcoidosis on plain film
• Identify the most common mediastinal masses of the chest
• Analyze different diagnostic imaging manifestations of pneumonia

• Point out the anatomy of the upper cervical spine and associated regional anatomy as seen on the APOM
• Identify variants of anatomy on APOM, noting if they are clinically relevant in providing Chiropractic care
• Differentially Diagnosis pathology noted in the region
• Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of imaging modalities for the upper cervical spine and maxillofacial region

• Recognize the signs and symptoms of patients entering the chiropractic with flu and sinusitis that may mimic musculoskeletal conditions
• Identify radiographic features of sinusitis on standard chiropractic projections and differentially diagnose from other musculoskeletal conditions
• Identify radiographic features of flu on standard chiropractic projections  and differentially diagnose from other musculoskeletal conditions
• Examine basic treatment options within chiropractic scope of practice and when to refer

• Analyze the debate between ALARA and AHARS with respect to the allowable amount of artificial radiation
• Express the cost vs. benefit of using CT, the imaging modality with the highest radiation risk
• Understand the added risk of radiation consequences in children
• Identify the different types of ionizing radiation

• Assess cervical radiographs to identify the radiographic signs of lower cervical spine trauma, recognizing which views are most diagnostic.
• Recognize, differentiate, and classify cervical hyperflexion and hyperextension injuries with respect to spinal stability.
• Identify and describe the imaging findings of neural arch trauma in the lower cervical spine.
• Discuss and categorize the complications of lower cervical spine trauma.
• Summarize the gravity as well as the evolving imaging and management protocols of penetrating neck injury.

• Identify plain film features of abdominal pathology that may present in the Chiropractic office, with an emphasis on calcifications
• Differentiate cystic from solid mass lesions
• Classify vascular calcifications
• Recognize when calcifications need immediate medical referral

• Summarize the radiographic findings of simple compression fractures and discuss how spinal biomechanics predispose to their occurrence.
• Describe the radiographic signs and sequelae of burst fractures and differentiate them from simple compression fractures.
• Identify the imaging findings of Chance type fractures and discuss their most common complications.
• Recognize the common radiographic manifestations of posterior arch trauma.
• Categorize the different types of intervertebral disc lesions and summarize their imaging findings.

• Identify imaging modalities used in sports and musculoskeletal imaging
• List indications for advanced imaging in the athlete
• Explain why imaging of the weekend “athlete” could save your practice
• Integrate imaging into treatment plans
• Assess progress of care with imaging

• Examine common orthopedic hardware on plain film and what needs to be reported
• Explain Xray findings which require Orthopedic referral and the various options
• Determine when advanced imaging is appropriate and what modality to use
• Discuss possible complications when finding orthopedic hardware

Hour 1

• Examine common orthopedic hardware on plain film and what needs to be reported
• Explain Xray findings which require Orthopedic referral and the various options
• Determine when advanced imaging is appropriate and what modality to use
• Discuss possible complications when finding orthopedic hardware

Hour 2

• Discuss congestive heart failure: diagnosis, imaging, and treatment
• Understand the imaging and treatment of multiple myeloma
• Understand the nature of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, specifically emphysema
• Evaluate the use of DXA in the diagnosis of osteoporosis
• Determining appropriate care for patients with osteoarthritis

Hour 3

• Determining common geriatric conditions that need special consideration in a patient assessment
• Identifying diabetic foot complications, specifically Charcot's foot
• Analyzing bone metastasis in the elderly, specifically carcinomas
• Understanding thoracic and abdominal aorta aneurysms and aorta dissections
• Explaining pneumonia, specifically community acquired pneumonia, from a clinical perspective

Hour 4

• Determining the risk factors, diagnostic imaging and pathophysiology of atherosclerosis
• Assessing patient risk for developing hip fractures
• Understanding prevention and diagnosis of lung cancer
• Identifying normal anatomy of the disc and what goes wrong in degenerative disc disease
• Reviewing common orthopedic hardware found in elderly patients

• Discuss congestive heart failure: diagnosis, imaging, and treatment
• Understand the imaging and treatment of multiple myeloma
• Understand the nature of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, specifically emphysema
• Evaluate the use of DXA in the diagnosis of osteoporosis
• Determining appropriate care for patients with osteoarthritis

• Determining common geriatric conditions that need special consideration in a patient assessment
• Identifying diabetic foot complications, specifically Charcot's foot
• Analyzing bone metastasis in the elderly, specifically carcinomas
• Understanding thoracic and abdominal aorta aneurysms and aorta dissections
• Explaining pneumonia, specifically community acquired pneumonia, from a clinical perspective

• Determining the risk factors, diagnostic imaging and pathophysiology of atherosclerosis
• Assessing patient risk for developing hip fractures
• Understanding prevention and diagnosis of lung cancer
• Identifying normal anatomy of the disc and what goes wrong in degenerative disc disease
• Reviewing common orthopedic hardware found in elderly patients

• Explaining in layman’s terms the basics of cancer
• Determining prognosis when skeletal metastasis is found on plain film
• Identifying osteolytic versus osteoblastic metastasis on plain film and specifying what advanced imaging is appropriate based on the cancer’s radiographic appearance
• Exploring current literature on emerging treatment options
• Discussing pathophysiology of bone metastasis