From Philosophy to Practice: DO-Centered Chronic Disease Self-Management Support Across the Lifespan - 2 AOA Category 1-A Credits

Provided by an AOA-accredited Category 1 CME sponsor, this activity is eligible for AOA Category 1-A credit and includes instructor interaction; questions submitted by email will receive a response within 48 hours. Chronic disease care is moving beyond reactive visits and medication-only escalation toward a comprehensive, patient-centered model that improves function over time. This course helps osteopathic physicians build that model with an evidence-based chronic care framework grounded in osteopathic principles and designed for real-world practice. You will explore how to apply the Four Tenets of Osteopathic Medicine to complex, high-burden conditions such as chronic pain and metabolic syndrome, while strengthening the patient-centered communication skills that drive adherence and sustainable behavior change. Many DOs understand chronic disease pathophysiology but still face a practical gap when translating principles, coaching techniques, and systems-based workflows into daily care. That gap can lead to overreliance on pharmacologic management and missed opportunities to address the structural, behavioral, and functional contributors that determine outcomes. This course closes the gap by providing actionable approaches for building an integrated practice model, improving clinical decision-making, and delivering whole-person care that supports long-term self-regulation, better function, and quality of life.

The management of chronic disease is shifting from a reactive model to a comprehensive, patient-centered paradigm. This course provides an in-depth exploration of the evidence-based framework for chronic care, covering the application of the Four Tenets of Medicine, the management of complex conditions like chronic pain and metabolic syndrome, and patient-centered communication strategies. Participants will learn actionable approaches for building an integrated and sustainable practice model, equipping them with the advanced skills needed to move beyond symptom management to improve patient function and quality of life significantly.

For many osteopathic physicians, a significant gap exists between a foundational understanding of chronic disease pathophysiology and the ability to integrate principles, patient-coaching techniques, and systems-based practices into daily care. This gap often leads to an overreliance on pharmacological management. This course closes that practice gap by providing the clinical knowledge and communication skills required to expertly address the structural, behavioral, and functional contributors to chronic disease.