Online health education by topic/speaker

(For Health Professionals)

Online Education

Reducing Harm Associated with Anticoagulation Therapies

Patients with AF: Who Should be on Warfarin?
November 20, 2009, 12 noon – 1pm, EDT

Daniel Singer, MD, Chief, Clinical Epidemiology Unit, General Medicine Division, Massachusetts General Hospital and Lead Author, ACCP, Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines for Atrial Fibrillation, Chest 2008 will present  Patients with AF: Who Should be on Warfarin? This audio conference call will include a review of the latest VTE guidelines, the evidence supporting their adoption, measures to assess their implementation, and review of the recent changes and the implications for hospital practice.  Additionally, Dr. Singer will review systems to ensure inpatients are evaluated for potential VTE and prescribed the indicated prophylaxis, potential implementation challenges, and various approaches to increase effective implementation of VTE prophylaxis for all patients.

Chronic Venous Insufficiency

Online Review
This online Clinician Review discusses chronic venous insufficiency, including: disease mechanisms, diagnostic steps, differential diagnosis, treatment of venous ulcers, follow-up, and various additional concerns. Excerpt: "Varicose veins, venous stasis ulcers—the pain and disability of chronic venous disease are finally gaining appropriate attention among both clinicians and patients. A national screening program is raising awareness of venous insufficiency, and new management options are emerging to relieve patients’ symptoms and improve cosmetic appearance."

Preventing Venous Thromboembolism in Orthopedic Surgery Patients: Evolving Guidelines and Standards of Care

Online Newsletter
This program will develop and present a comprehensive, national sequential medical education initiative to improve VTE prophylaxis and reduce the incidence of VTE among hospitalized patients at risk of VTE, with a specific focus on orthopedic surgery patients. The program will be designed to address systematic and individual barriers to appropriate prophylaxis. The program will discuss the current and evolving state of affairs of VTE prophylaxis in orthopedic surgery. Through the different deliverables, the program will discuss / highlight the literature and available guidelines regarding current prophylaxis agents, the external forces affecting VTE prophylaxis use in orthopedic surgery, the challenges to and potential strategies for improving VTE prophylaxis, and the literature and role of emerging anticoagulants under investigation.

The Pharmacogenetics of Warfarin Dosing

Webcast
Variations in the VKORC1 and CYP2C9 genes alter warfarin metabolism. In August 2007, the FDA label for warfarin was updated to highlight genetic testing to predict warfarin response. David Herrington addresses the utility of genetic testing to more rapidly optimize warfarin dosing. The purpose of this program is to educate healthcare professionals on the use of pharmacogenetic data to predict response to oral anticoagulation therapy. This program is designed for healthcare professionals, particularly cardiologists, involved in the management of patients requiring chronic oral anticoagulation. At the conclusion of this program, participants will be able to: Outline the difficulties in optimizing warfarin dose; Review data linking genetic variations and warfarin sensitivity; Discuss the utility of genetic testing for warfarin sensitivity in the management of patients requiring oral anticoagulation. Medscape, LLC designates this educational activity for a maximum of 0.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Each participant should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of his/her participation in the activity.

Performance Improvement Strategies in Acute Coronary Syndromes

Webcast
Treatment guidelines and hospital protocols exist for the management of patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS), yet barriers that limit the optimal management of these patients are prevalent and achieving therapeutic goals remains a challenge. Join Christopher P. Cannon, MD, James W. Hoekstra, MD, and David M. Larson, MD, for a first-of-its-kind complimentary ACS performance improvement series, which will help you implement guideline-approved processes for your care of ACS patients, with a special focus on risk assessment, initial pharmacologic management, and door-to-needle/door-to-transfer times. Earn up to 20 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits? beginning today.

Risk Stratification for Venous Thromboembolism

Webcast While there is no universally accepted method for stratifying venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk for medical or surgical patients, Dr. Arthur Wheeler discusses various strategies in this Expert Commentary. Dr. Wheeler also discusses the barriers to VTE risk stratification and provides unique insight into the ways to overcome these barriers. Dr. Wheeler summarizes recent landmark deep vein thrombosis (DVT) prophylaxis clinical trials and the impact they may have on managing patients who must be correctly assessed for risk before the appropriate treatment can be given.

Reducing Door-to-Treatment Times and Meeting New Performance Measures in Acute Coronary Syndromes

Podcast
In this Expert Commentary, Dr. Marc Cohen addresses various strategies for reducing the interval between arrival at the hospital and intracoronary balloon inflation during primary percutaneous coronary intervention, as well as reducing the interval between arrival at the hospital and administration of thrombolytic agents. Dr. Cohen also addresses barriers associated with these goals and discusses new performance measures in acute coronary syndromes.