CME Online
The newest CME presentations
are at the top of this page.
Those nearing expiration are nearer the bottom of the page.
|
Recent Advances in the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes: Identifying
Opportunities for Managed Care Several new classes of agents have the potential to reshape diabetes treatment. For instance, new and emerging therapies have shown promising results in lowering A1C levels without increasing the risk of side effects such as weight gain or hypoglycemia. This program will highlight this new generation of therapies and explore their potential and optimal use in managed care populations. The program will also identify a variety of strategies (including pay for performance, disease management, and quality improvement programs) that managed care professionals can employ to help clinicians overcome the "clinical inertia" associated with type 2 diabetes and alleviate health disparities among vulnerable and/or high-risk patient groups. CME Valid to May 3, 2011 |
|
|
Managed
Care Strategies Used in the Successful Treatment of Asthma The updated National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) guidelines are designed to improve asthma care by providing clinicians with the most current scientific knowledge. As managed care professionals increasingly become aware of how to leverage the Third Expert Panel Report (EPR3) recommendations, asthma patients will benefit with better treatment outcomes. Managed care executives need further education to understand the rationale for the EPR3 recommendations, including the rationale for the new direction that separates asthma control from asthma severity. They need education on the current development in tools to measure asthma control in order to better understand the variable nature of asthma and develop appropriate therapeutic regimens. Continuing education on these important asthma topics will help ensure better care and improve outcomes in asthma patients. CME Valid to January 31, 2011 |
Improving Patient Outcomes in Adult Asthma 22 million Americans have a current diagnosis of asthma. Every year patients with asthma have an estimated 12 million asthma attacks, 2 million emergency room visits, and approximately 4000 asthma-related deaths, according to the CDC. Asthma has a significant impact on both the healthcare system and healthcare consumers. The annual direct and indirect costs have exceeded approximately $18 billion according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation. It is for this reason that the healthcare system must take action to reduce expenditures for asthma, while increasing quality of care in the patient population. Effective and timely treatment of asthma can both improve patient outcomes and reduce the cost when following these guidelines set forth by NAEPP. CME Valid to December 31, 2010 |
|
Alzheimer’s Dementia: Early Diagnosis and Treatment Alzheimer’s disease affects a significant portion of the population and is a growing concern as our population continues to age. It is important that appropriate diagnosis occurs early so treatment can begin and so the patient can be maintained in the home setting as long as possible. Although some agents are available for managing the symptoms of this disease, they are insufficient. The future is in agents that attack the fundamental pathophysiologic process of this devastating disease. CME Valid to December 31, 2010 |
Targeted Therapies
in Non Small Cell Lung Cancer Despite progress in early detection and treatment, NSCLC is often diagnosed at an advanced stage and prognosis is poor. Historically, treatment has included a variety of modalities such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. More recently, therapeutic options for NSCLC have evolved to include targeted agents such as vinorelbine, paclitaxel, gemcitabine, docetaxel, pemetrexed, bevacizumab, and erlotinib. The expanding role of the targeted therapies and the concept of tailoring therapies based on clinical and molecular markers are transforming the treatment of NSCLC. It is imperative that oncologists, medical directors and nurses are informed about these new treatments and how they can be combined and used with current treatment regimens. During this session on non-small cell lung cancer, medical directors and nurse case managers will learn about these targeted therapies and the best way to include them into their treatment regimens. CME Valid to December 31, 2010 |
|
Bipolar Disorder: Developing a
Cost Effective
Disease Management Program Bipolar disorder is usually life-long. Patients can also suffer from substance abuse, behavioral problems, and relationship problems. Possible causes are thought to be genetic and brain structure. Bipolar disorder is treated through a variety of therapies: mood-stabilizing medications, atypical antipsychotic medications, antidepressant medications, as well as psychotherapy. Bipolar disorder has no cure but can be effectively treated. Treatment is best long-term and continuous to be the most effective. Unfortunately, patients sometimes stop their medication believing that they are better. Improving patient adherence is important. CME Valid to June 1, 2011 |
Multiple Myeloma: What Managed
Care Needs To Know Multiple Myeloma (MM) accounts for 10% of hematologic malignancies. In 2007, it is estimated that MM was responsible for 11,000 new deaths. This cancer is more prevalent in African Americans than Caucasians with a median age of 66 at diagnosis. As with all cancers, early detection and treatment are necessary for optimal patient outcomes. Managed care medical directors and physician executives need to be and stay informed on the diagnosis and treatments to appropriate manage their population. CME Valid to December 31, 2010 |
|
Understanding, Diagnosing, and Managing
Fibromyalgia |
What’s New In Hypertension Since The
JNC 7 Guidelines Hypertension continues to be a leading health problem, not only in sheer numbers of affected individuals but because more than 70% of people who receive care do not achieve adequate blood pressure control. How can clinicians do better in helping their patients achieve better control of hypertension? This session will look at what the guidelines have to say and opportunities for improved outcomes. CME Valid to March 1, 2011 |
|
Practical Application of Insulin Pump
Therapy
In Type 2 Diabetes |
History, Injury and Blood Flow: The
Keys to Detection of Venous Thromboembolism Deep Vein Thrombosis alone occurs in about 2 million Americans each year, accounting for up to 600,000 DVT hospitalizations. Pulmonary Embolism (PE) accounts for nearly 300,000 deaths per year, with the majority of those occurring from the onset of DVT. Together, Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) occurs in about 600,000 cases per year, with a large portion of those cases being diagnosed upon conclusion of an autopsy. The key to preventing DVT, PE and ultimately VTE is early recognition and diagnosis, along with preventative methods for patients at higher risk to adhere to CME Valid to December 31, 2010 |
|
Osteoporosis: Decreasing Costs by
Improving Prevention,
Early Diagnosis & Patient Outcomes Osteoporosis is preventable, but it is not curable, only treatable. It is important that doctors stay aware of the risk factors, and perform bone mineral density (BMD) tests for diagnosis for high-risk patients. Medicare reimburses BMD testing every two years. Fractures from osteoporosis reduce a patient’s quality of life and an average of 24% of hip fracture patients aged 50 and up die in the year following their fracture. The importance of prevention and early diagnosis is apparent and of utmost importance to managed care medical directors, case managers and administrators. CME Valid to December 31, 2010 |
Effective Diagnosis and Treatmentof Early Parkinson’s Disease The session will provide important insights into effective management, including diagnosis and treatment of early PD. This educational activity will help attendees identify patients in need of early treatment and to distinguish disease progression from suboptimal treatment outcomes with the goal of improving patient care. It is imperative that Managed Care Medical Directors, Neurologists, Nurses and Healthcare Executives, who will be present at the Fall Managed Care Forum, learn about these advances in treatment and how to integrate them into their respective plan or provider organizations. CME Valid to December 31, 2010 |
|
Inattention, Hyperactivity and
Impulsivity: The Diagnosis, Management and Treatment of Behavioral Deficits Attributed to ADHD Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a developmental disorder, comprised of deficits in behavioral inhibition, staying focused, resisting distractions and ability to regulate one’s activity level to the appropriate situation. While inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity are typical behaviors exuded during childhood, for those with ADHD, these behaviors are much more severe and occur more often. With the increasing number of ADHD diagnoses and additional problems that can be associated with it, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder has a huge impact, economically. In 2005, the ‘cost of illness’ (not total impact) for ADHD was estimated to be anywhere from $36 billion to $52 billion, or between $12,005 and $17,458 annually per individual. Comparatively, previous statistics show that in 2000, total excess cost of ADHD in the US was $31.6 billion, an increase of at least $4 billion in just a five-year period. Work loss, though not built into this figure, also creates a significant financial burden on society and in a study of 10 different countries worldwide, the employer ‘cost’ associated with ADHD is 143.8 million days lost of work productivity annually. CME Valid to December 31, 2010 |
Evolving Concepts in CVD Risk Assessment: Implications in the
Managed Care Environment Cardiovascular disease remains a leading killer in the United States, and epidemiologic studies continue to show a direct relationship between atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease (CHD). A quality improvement initiative revealed that patients with cardiac risk equivalents often are not being treated appropriately by clinicians; they are receiving less than optimal care. Recent clinical data released at the American Heart Association have stirred significant debate among cardiologists and other clinicians. As research improves our understanding of dyslipidemia, cardiac inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and atherosclerosis, managed care professionals need continuing education that will help them implement appropriate strategies and prevention plans that will improve clinical outcomes in patients with cardiovascular disease. CME Valid to November 30, 2010 |
|
Evolution of Personalized Medicine:
The Role of Pharmacogenomics in Managed Care
The goal of this activity is to provide medical directors from plans, purchasers and provider systems and nurse case managers with appropriate education on personalized medicine and its impact on managed care environments. CME valid to November 10, 2010. |
The Relationship between Rheumatoid Arthritis and Heart Failure Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic inflammatory disease affecting approximately 1% of the adult general population. Cardiovascular disease is recognized as the leading cause of death in RA patients, accounting for nearly 50 percent of their mortality. Patients with RA are at an increased risk for myocardial infarction, stroke, and heart failure. Some medications for RA may also worsen or precipitate heart failure. Optimal management of the RA patient requires attention to not only management of RA but also prevention of cardiovascular disease. CME valid to November 1, 2010. |
|
Management of an HIV Patient
Population Advances in treatment have changed AIDS into a chronically managed disease. Patients need to be identified early after initial HIV infection to prevent further spread of the infection and improve their life expectancy. Changes have been made to the health care setting recommendations for HIV screening to promote early and wide identification of HIV infections. CME valid to December 31, 2010 |
The Relationship and Impact of Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease The prevalence of type 2 diabetes and obesity are both increasing. Because these are both major risk factors for the development of cardiovascular disease, the prevalence and mortality of cardiovascular disease is likely to increase. In order to prevent this, strategies for preventing diabetes, treating diabetes to accepted goals, and targeting associated CVD risk factors should be implemented. CME valid to December 31, 2010 |
|
|
|
