Primary Care in the Era of COVID-19: A Comprehensive Review

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about significant changes in primary care practice, requiring healthcare professionals to adapt to new challenges in ambulatory environments and telemedicine. Despite these changes, primary care clinicians must continue to prioritize preventive medicine, cardiovascular risk reduction, management of chronic diseases, and optimal use of diagnostic tests and new medications.

Course Overview

This comprehensive course, presented by the UCSF Division of General Internal Medicine, aims to equip practicing internists, family practitioners, advance practice providers, and other health professionals with the skills and strategies necessary to provide high-quality primary care. The course will focus on the latest developments in outpatient medicine, controversies in primary care practice, and updates in care of patients with COVID-19.

Target Audience

This course is designed for healthcare professionals who want to stay up-to-date on the latest advancements in primary care and ambulatory practice, including:

• Practicing internists
• Family practitioners
• Advance practice providers
• Other health professionals interested in providing high-quality primary care

Objectives

Upon completing this course, participants will be able to:

• Implement new guidelines in office-based preventive medicine, including cancer prevention and screening, immunizations, and prevention of coronary heart disease and stroke
• Manage common and complex office problems, such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, asthma, COPD, TIAs, stroke, diabetes, thyroid disorders, osteoporosis, gout, rheumatoid arthritis, and STIs
• Understand the impact of COVID-19 on primary care practice and use best evidence to treat patients with COVID-related conditions and concerns
• Diagnose and treat common problems in women’s health, including contraception, abnormal uterine bleeding, breast cancer, endometrial cancer, pelvic pain, and vaginitis
• Treat common disorders in dermatology, including skin cancer, eczema, acne, hair loss, chronic urticaria, drug eruptions, skin infections, and disorders of aging skin
• Diagnose and treat common and less common disorders of the lung
• Understand the changing role of immunotherapy and other new medications in modern medicine
• Prevent and treat illness in patients with immunocompromising conditions
• Understand the evidence for common vitamin supplementation and other nutritional supplements
• Understand and treat obesity and use new obesity medications
• Implement new exercise guidelines and optimize patient communication and shared-decision making
• Select the best diagnostic tests and enhance value in medical practice
• Become a better clinician and advocate with a deeper understanding of health disparities and the central role of primary care clinicians in providing equitable, patient-centered care

Course Outline

Don’t miss this opportunity to stay current with the latest advancements in primary care and ambulatory practice. Register now and take the first step towards providing high-quality patient care in the era of COVID-19.