The Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) announced today the launch of a new continuing education program entitled, Lupus, Deciphering the Clues, co-developed with RN.com and RxSchool.com, and Dr. Mary Anne Dooley, Member, LFA's Medical-Scientific Advisory Council. The program will provide an overview of lupus diagnosis and treatments for nurses, pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians. The goal is to make health professionals more aware of lupus so it is recognized and treated earlier, and educate them on the treatment options available for people with lupus.

"This program helps to fill the great unmet need there is for medical education about lupus in the health community, which is essential to ensuring that people with lupus are diagnosed and treated early," said Sandra C. Raymond, President and CEO, Lupus Foundation of America. "We want to thank RN.com and RxSchool for their collaboration and partnership on this exciting project."

It can take years to diagnose lupus. In a survey conducted by the LFA, more than half of the people with lupus visited three or more doctors and suffered four or more years before being diagnosed. There is no single test to diagnose lupus, and symptoms, such as fatigue, skin rashes, joint pain, and hair loss mimic other conditions, appear differently in different people, and can increase or decrease in severity from day to day.

The program will be provided for free through April 30, 2011. To register or for more information visit here.

About Lupus

Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease in which the immune system is unbalanced, causing inflammation and tissue damage to virtually any organ in the body. Lupus can be unpredictable and potentially fatal, yet no satisfactory treatment or cure exists. An estimated 1.5 million Americans and at least five million people worldwide have a form of lupus. Its health effects include heart attacks, strokes, seizures, miscarriages, and organ failure.

Source:
RN.com and RxSchool
Lupus Foundation of America (LFA)