A focused clinical update on cardiometabolic disease, obesity, gastrointestinal conditions, cancer screening, and sleep medicine for everyday practice.

This conference delivers an integrated clinical update on hypertension, lipids, obesity, gastrointestinal disease, cancer screening, and sleep medicine. Learners will review high-yield guidelines, apply practical treatment algorithms, and refine their approach to common complaints seen in primary care and general medical practice. The emphasis is on translating current evidence into efficient, patient-centered care at the bedside and in the clinic.

Day 1

Integrated approach to assessing and treating hypertension and dyslipidemia while estimating and lowering overall cardiovascular risk.

Hypertension, Lipids, and Global Cardiovascular Risk

Review cardiovascular risk calculators, blood pressure classifications, and target-setting strategies for everyday care.

Risk Assessment and Blood Pressure Targets in Clinical Practice

Practical strategies for stepwise pharmacologic treatment of primary hypertension, including use of combination therapy.

Managing Primary Hypertension and Combination Therapy

Recognizing resistant and secondary hypertension and choosing appropriate diagnostic and referral pathways.

Resistant and Secondary Hypertension: When to Investigate and Refer

Evidence-based approach to statins, nonstatin therapies, and ASCVD prevention for primary and secondary prevention populations.

Lipid Management and ASCVD Prevention Across Risk Groups

Break

Comprehensive approach to lifestyle, pharmacologic, and GLP-1–based treatments for obesity in clinical practice.

Obesity and Weight Management in the Era of GLP-1–Based Therapies

Key elements of nutrition, physical activity, and behavioral counseling for long-term weight management.

Foundations of Lifestyle and Behavioral Treatment for Obesity

Determining who is an appropriate candidate for anti-obesity medications and engaging patients in shared decisions.

Patient Selection and Shared Decision-Making for Anti-Obesity Medications

Dosing, titration, monitoring, and adverse effect management for GLP-1–based therapies used in obesity.

Practical Use of GLP-1–Based Therapies in Obesity Care

Strategies for maintaining weight loss, addressing weight regain, and individualizing care for special populations.

 Long-Term Follow-Up, Weight Maintenance, and Special Populations

Evidence-based management of GERD and dyspepsia and practical approaches to colorectal cancer screening and surveillance.

GI and Cancer Screening Update: From GERD to Colorectal Cancer

Recognizing typical and atypical GERD presentations and choosing initial empiric therapies.

Evaluation and Initial Management of GERD in Primary Care

Identifying alarm features, indications for endoscopy, and management implications of Barrett esophagus.

Alarm Features, Endoscopy, and Barrett Esophagus

Comparing stool-based tests, sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, and other options for colorectal cancer screening.

Colorectal Cancer Screening Modalities and Risk Stratification

Determining surveillance intervals after polypectomy and closing the loop on results with patients.

Post-Polypectomy Surveillance and Communication of Results

Connections between sleep, cognition, mood, cardiometabolic risk, and practical approaches to common sleep complaints.

Sleep, Brain Health, and Metabolic Disease

Identifying insomnia, circadian rhythm disorders, and other sleep problems in busy clinical encounters.

Recognizing Sleep Disorders in the Outpatient Visit

Understanding when to suspect obstructive sleep apnea, order testing, and collaborate with sleep specialists.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Cardiometabolic Risk, and Referral Pathways

How sleep disturbance intersects with cognitive complaints, depression, and anxiety in adult patients.

Sleep, Cognition, and Mood: Implications for Clinical Practice

Combining sleep hygiene, CBT-I principles, and judicious use of medications for insomnia.

Nonpharmacologic and Pharmacologic Approaches to Insomnia

End of Day

Medical Update: Clinical Practice

A practical, future-focused conference on outpatient clinical care, risk reduction, practice growth, financial resilience, and the changing landscape of medicine.

This conference offers a practical, forward-looking update on the clinical, legal, financial, and operational challenges of modern medical practice. Learners will strengthen their approach to common outpatient conditions including hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity, gastrointestinal disease, cancer screening, and sleep medicine, while also addressing the risks that shape contemporary care, such as opioid prescribing, malpractice exposure, litigation, documentation, communication, and digital reputation. Beyond clinical care, the program examines practice finance, fraud prevention, efficiency, burnout, asset protection, retirement planning, and the evolving technologies and care models that are reshaping the future of medicine.

A practical day on risk, marketing, and growth that links pain and opioid prescribing, malpractice and litigation, digital reputation, and communication strategies for safer, stronger practices.

Day 2

Balancing effective pain relief with safe opioid prescribing and recognition of opioid use disorder in clinical practice.

Pain Management, Opioids, and Addiction Risk

Structured approaches to pain assessment, functional goals, and expectation-setting with patients.

Assessing Pain and Setting Realistic Treatment Goals

Evidence-based use of non-opioid medications and nonpharmacologic therapies for acute and chronic pain.

Non-Opioid Pharmacologic and Nonpharmacologic Therapies

Principles for starting, continuing, and tapering opioids while minimizing risk of misuse and overdose.

Initiating and Monitoring Opioid Therapy Safely

Identifying opioid use disorder and initiating or facilitating evidence-based treatment.

Recognizing and Managing Opioid Use Disorder in Clinical Practice

How malpractice cases arise and progress, and what physicians should know about documentation, depositions, and testifying.

Malpractice, Litigation, and the Physician as Witness

Patterns of diagnostic error, communication failure, and system issues that drive malpractice litigation.

Common Malpractice Allegations and How They Arise

How notes, orders, and consent forms are interpreted in court and what constitutes defensible documentation.

Documentation, Informed Consent, and the Medical Record in Litigation

Practical steps physicians can take when they are deposed or consulted in legal cases.

Preparing for Depositions and Interactions with Counsel

Strategies for clear, credible testimony and maintaining composure in the courtroom.

Testifying at Trial and Maintaining Professionalism Under Pressure

Building a professional online presence and using web, search, and social media to attract and retain patients ethically.

Digital Reputation, Marketing, and Patient Acquisition

Core elements of an effective practice website and online profile that support patient trust and access.

Building a Patient-Centered Online Presence and Website

Using search optimization, online reviews, and social media to enhance visibility while protecting professional reputation.

Search, Reviews, and Social Media Strategies for Clinicians

Transforming digital interest into scheduled visits through clear calls to action and efficient workflows.

Converting Website Visitors and Inquiries Into Appointments

Understanding professional, legal, and payer constraints that apply to digital outreach and advertising.

Ethical and Regulatory Boundaries in Digital Marketing

Using high-quality documentation, patient communication, and team processes to lower clinical and legal risk.

Documentation, Communication, and Team-Based Care to Reduce Risk

Structuring notes and problem lists so they support patient care and defend clinical decisions.

High-Value Progress Notes and Problem Lists

Talking with patients about risks, benefits, and uncertainty in ways that foster understanding and shared decisions.

Risk-Reducing Conversations and Informed Consent

Designing systems to ensure abnormal results, referrals, and follow-up needs are tracked and addressed.

Closing the Loop on Tests, Referrals, and Follow-Up

Optimizing team roles and handoff practices to reduce errors and improve patient experience.

Leveraging Team-Based Care and Handoffs to Improve Safety

A forward-looking day on practice finance, fraud prevention, burnout, and the emerging future of care models and technology.

Day 3

Recognizing, preventing, and responding to financial fraud and embezzlement in clinical settings.

Fraud Prevention and Internal Controls in Medical Practices

How fraudulent billing, skimming, and embezzlement show up in day-to-day practice operations.

Recognizing Common Fraud and Embezzlement Schemes in Clinics

Core internal control concepts and simple safeguards physicians can implement with their teams.

Designing Basic Financial and Billing Controls

Using basic reports and periodic audits to monitor for fraud and compliance problems.

Monitoring Reports, Audits, and Red Flags

Steps to take when fraud is suspected and how to engage legal and financial advisors effectively.

Responding to Suspected Fraud and Working with Advisors

Improving visit flow, managing EHR and inbox demands, and building sustainable work patterns that prevent burnout.

Clinical Efficiency, Burnout, and Sustainable Practice

Tools for analyzing how time and effort are distributed across clinical tasks.

Diagnosing Inefficiency: Mapping the Clinical Workday

Optimizing visit structure, templates, and delegation to support efficient, high-quality care.

Visit Flow, Templates, and Team Roles

Strategies to control electronic health record burden and reduce spillover work into personal time.

Managing the EHR, Inbox, and After-Hours Work

Recognizing burnout and building individualized plans for resilience and boundary-setting.

Burnout Prevention, Boundaries, and Personal Sustainability Plans

Core concepts in protecting assets, building wealth, and planning for retirement across a medical career.

Asset Protection, Wealth, and Retirement Planning for Physicians

Clarifying financial goals and understanding assets, liabilities, and cash flow for clinicians.

Financial Goal Setting and the Physician Balance Sheet

Using legal entities, contracts, and insurance coverage to protect personal and professional assets.

Asset Protection Basics: Legal Structures and Insurance

Retirement account options, diversification concepts, and missteps that can derail long-term plans.

Retirement Savings, Investment Principles, and Common Pitfalls

Coordinating employment changes, practice buy-ins or sales, and retirement timing with financial goals.

Integrating Practice Transitions with Long-Term Financial Planning

Emerging tools and models, including AI and telehealth, and how to use them to improve access and equity for vulnerable patients.

The Future of Practice: AI, Telehealth, and Caring for Vulnerable Populations

Opportunities, limitations, and safeguards when incorporating AI into clinical workflows.

Using AI Tools Safely and Effectively in Clinical Work

Building telehealth processes that are clinically sound, efficient, and responsive to patient needs.

Designing Patient-Centered Telehealth Workflows

Practical strategies to reduce barriers and tailor care models for patients facing structural vulnerabilities.

Improving Access for Unhoused, Disabled, and Other Vulnerable Patients

Ethical and governance considerations for AI, telehealth, and new delivery models that affect vulnerable populations.

Equity, Ethics, and Governance in Emerging Care Models

Medical Update: Clinical Practice, Practice Growth, and The Future of Care

La Fortuna offers sandy beaches and easy days on the water—think sailing and boat tours—along with fresh seafood, evening waterfront promenades, and sunset strolls.

La Fortuna

Available Conferences

Medical Update: Clinical Practice

Medical Update: Clinical Practice, Practice Growth, and The Future of Care

Ready to learn in La Fortuna?