MCE Conferences Rheumatology and Pain Management for Primary Care 2026

Evidence-Based Rheumatology, Musculoskeletal Medicine & Pain Management for Primary Care Clinicians

The MCE Conferences Rheumatology and Pain Management for Primary Care 2026 program provides a practical and comprehensive review of common rheumatologic disorders and pain management strategies encountered in everyday clinical practice. Designed specifically for primary care providers, this interactive conference combines evidence-based medicine, case-based learning, and expert-led discussions to improve diagnostic accuracy, treatment selection, and long-term patient outcomes.

Held from January 16–18, 2026, at the Hilton Whistler Resort & Spa, Whistler, British Columbia, the course delivers clinically relevant updates on rheumatology and pain medicine while emphasizing pragmatic approaches that can be immediately applied in outpatient settings.

Course Features

• 3 Video Lectures
• 3 Subtitle Files (VTT)
• 15 PDF Presentations
• Total Size: 1.02 GB
• Evidence-Based Clinical Updates
• Interactive Case Discussions
• Practical Management Strategies
• Rheumatology & Pain Medicine Focus
• Primary Care-Oriented Education

Program Overview

Musculoskeletal complaints, chronic pain syndromes, and rheumatologic diseases account for a substantial portion of primary care visits. Early recognition and appropriate management are essential for preventing disability, improving quality of life, and reducing healthcare burden.

This conference provides an up-to-date review of common inflammatory, autoimmune, degenerative, and chronic pain conditions. Participants learn practical diagnostic approaches, treatment algorithms, medication strategies, and evidence-based interventions for managing patients with rheumatologic disorders and pain-related conditions.

The discussion-based format encourages active participation through clinical cases, expert analysis, and real-world management scenarios.

Learning Objectives

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

• Diagnose common rheumatologic disorders encountered in primary care.
• Differentiate inflammatory from non-inflammatory musculoskeletal conditions.
• Apply evidence-based treatment strategies for chronic pain management.
• Recognize early signs of autoimmune and connective tissue diseases.
• Utilize current guidelines for pain management and symptom control.
• Develop individualized treatment plans for rheumatologic conditions.
• Improve patient outcomes through timely referral and multidisciplinary care.
• Implement practical approaches to musculoskeletal assessment and management.

Core Topics Covered

Rheumatology Fundamentals

• Rheumatologic Disease Recognition
• Musculoskeletal Examination
• Inflammatory Arthritis Evaluation
• Autoimmune Disease Assessment
• Diagnostic Strategies

Arthritis Management

• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Osteoarthritis
• Psoriatic Arthritis
• Crystal Arthropathies
• Evidence-Based Treatment Approaches

Autoimmune & Connective Tissue Disorders

• Lupus
• Sjögren Syndrome
• Vasculitis
• Connective Tissue Diseases
• Early Diagnosis and Referral

Musculoskeletal Medicine

• Joint Pain Evaluation
• Soft Tissue Disorders
• Tendinopathies
• Regional Pain Syndromes
• Functional Assessment

Pain Management

• Chronic Pain Assessment
• Multimodal Pain Treatment
• Non-Opioid Therapies
• Pharmacologic Management
• Patient-Centered Pain Care

Evidence-Based Therapeutics

• Current Rheumatology Guidelines
• Biologic Therapies
• Disease-Modifying Treatments
• Pain Management Advances
• Risk-Benefit Assessment

Case-Based Learning

• Real-World Clinical Cases
• Diagnostic Challenges
• Treatment Decision-Making
• Practical Clinical Pearls
• Interactive Discussions

Primary Care Applications

• Outpatient Management Strategies
• Referral Considerations
• Long-Term Disease Monitoring
• Multidisciplinary Collaboration
• Improving Patient Outcomes

Target Audience

This course is ideal for:

• Primary Care Physicians
• Family Medicine Physicians
• Internal Medicine Physicians
• Rheumatologists
• Pain Management Physicians
• Nurse Practitioners
• Physician Assistants
• Healthcare Professionals Managing Musculoskeletal Disorders

Educational Highlights

• ✔ Comprehensive Rheumatology Review
• ✔ Practical Pain Management Strategies
• ✔ Musculoskeletal Medicine Updates
• ✔ Arthritis Diagnosis & Treatment
• ✔ Autoimmune Disease Recognition
• ✔ Evidence-Based Clinical Guidelines
• ✔ Interactive Case-Based Learning
• ✔ Primary Care Focused Education
• ✔ Non-Opioid Pain Management Approaches
• ✔ Real-World Clinical Applications

Clinical & Educational Value

The MCE Conferences Rheumatology and Pain Management for Primary Care 2026 program provides clinicians with practical tools for managing common rheumatologic and pain-related disorders. Through evidence-based lectures, case discussions, and expert guidance, participants gain valuable knowledge to improve diagnostic confidence, treatment effectiveness, and patient outcomes.

+ Topics:

*Note: these are continuous video recordings during the conference, they include individual lectures mentioned in the Detail section below

• Day 1 – January 16.mp4
• Day 2 – January 17.mp4
• Day 3 – January 18.mp4

* Detail:

• Friday, January 16th
  • 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM: Assessment of Low Back Pain
  • Objectives: 1) Discuss how multiple structures in the lumbar spine may serve as pain generators, including the disc, facet joint, myofascial, and ligamentous structures 2) Review, demonstrate, and practice basic physical exam techniques used for assessing spine-related pain conditions 3) Differentiate lumbar radiculopathy signs and symptoms from other causes of low back pain, including facet-mediated, soft tissue, and sacroiliac joint pain
  • 3:30 PM – 3:35 PM ~ BREAK
  • 3:35 PM – 4:35 PM: Management of Fibromyalgia
  • Objectives: 1) Become familiar with recent pathophysiology related to mechanisms of fibromyalgia 2) Discuss recent clinical criteria for diagnosing fibromyalgia in a primary care setting 3) Identify a multidisciplinary approach that can be applied to patients with chronic widespread pain
  • 4:35 PM – 4:45 PM ~ BREAK
  • 4:45 PM – 5:45 PM: Approach to a Patient with Multiple Aches and Pains
  • Objectives: 1) Recognize the importance of pathophysiology in understanding rheumatic disease in regards to target tissue and characteristic joint distribution 2) Distinguish inflammatory from non-inflammatory (degenerative) arthritis and non-articular (soft tissue) rheumatic conditions 3) Recognize the role of laboratory and imaging studies in the rheumatologic diagnosis 4) Identify the features that distinguish fibromyalgia from other rheumatic diseases 5) Distinguish symptoms of COVID-19 long haul syndrome and similarities to fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome
  • 5:45 PM – 5:50 PM ~ BREAK
  • 5:50 PM – 6:50 PM: Clinical Aspects and Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • Objectives: 1) Recognize the prevalence, symptoms and physical findings of patients with RA 2) Discuss the diagnosis of RA and risk assessment for potentially severe disease outcome 3) Strategize on the use of conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, including biologic and synthetic agents with a treat-to-target approach 4) Review the timing of medication use and vaccination schedule for COVID-19
• Saturday, January 17th
  • 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM: Gout and Other Crystal Arthropathies
  • Objectives: 1) Identify the populations at risk for gout 2) Identify comorbidities and risk factors in gout patients 3) Diagnose gout and determine appropriate laboratory and imaging studies 4) Recognize pseudogout and other crystal arthropathies 5) Effectively initiate a strategy for successful long-term treatment of acute gout 6) Develop a strategy to manage asymptomatic hyperuricemia
  • 3:30 PM – 3:35 PM ~ BREAK
  • 3:35 PM – 4:35 PM: How Do I Identify and Treat Lupus and Other Autoimmune Diseases?
  • Objectives: 1) Recognize the features of an autoimmune disease and make a definitive diagnosis of lupus 2) Develop a deeper understanding of the pathophysiology of lupus as an immune-complex disease 3) Properly order laboratory studies and kidney biopsy to diagnose and manage lupus 4) Effectively treat lupus and instruct the patient on self-management
  • 4:35 PM – 4:45 PM ~ BREAK
  • 4:45 PM – 5:45 PM: Overview of Opioid Pharmacology, Assessment, and Management
  • Objectives: 1) Highlight pharmacologic differences between various opioids used for chronic pain management 2) Describe risk factors that may help to predict problematic opioid use, including addiction and misuse 3) Review validated screening tools used to help identify possible aberrant behaviors related to long-term opioid use 4) Review and utilize patient provider agreements (PPAs) and prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs), as a means of improved monitoring of patients using opioid products
  • 5:45 PM – 5:50 PM ~ BREAK
  • 5:50 PM – 6:50 PM: Rational Polypharmacy for Chronic Pain Management
  • Objectives: 1) Apply new pathophysiologic understanding to treating pain 2) Determine mechanisms of action for the various muscle relaxers and anticonvulsants commonly used to treat various chronic pain states 3) Use case examples to better understand titration and adjustment of adjuvant analgesics
• Sunday, January 18th
  • 7:30 AM – 8:30 AM: Individualized Pain Treatments Demystified
  • Objectives: 1) Determine best practices for tapering and weaning patients off opioids safely 2) Formulate an approach for converting patients between adjunctive analgesics 3) Discuss updates in non-opioid pain pharmacology, including advanced combination therapies
  • 8:30 AM – 8:35 AM ~ BREAK
  • 8:35 AM – 9:35 AM: Approaching Difficult Conversations about Chronic Pain
  • Objectives: 1) Discuss the best approach in addressing the patient who is resistant to change 2) Describe a strategy for treating patients with anxiety around pain therapy 3) Characterize patients with clear addiction 4) Manage patients who are angry or upset in the office 5) Discuss the approach to patients who have lost self-control
  • 9:35 AM – 9:45 AM ~ BREAK
  • 9:45 AM – 10:45 AM: Osteoarthritis: A Practical Guide
  • Objectives: 1) Identify the features that are typical for primary osteoarthritis and those that may be a consequence of a different disease 2) Properly order imaging studies to aid in diagnosis and management 3) Manage treatment by using nonpharmacologic measures, such as weight reduction and exercise, supplements, cannabis for pain control, as well as medications for relieving joint symptoms 4) Discuss when to refer to surgery
  • 10:45 AM – 10:50 AM ~ BREAK
  • 10:50 AM – 11:50 AM: Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and the Long COVID Syndrome
  • Objectives: 1) Recognize the typical features of chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia 2) Distinguish the clinical features from other rheumatic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and Sjogren’s syndrome 3) Recognize the broad overlap of clinical symptoms between FM/CFS and post-acute COVID syndrome 4) Determine effective treatment for these disorders