Sponsored by the University of Kentucky College of Medicine

Produced by the North American Center for Continuing Medical Education-Princeton  CME

International Organization of Multiple Sclerosis Nurses (IOMSN) has reviewed this project that was developed by North American Center for Continuing Medical Education (NACCME)-Princeton CME as a resource for NPs and PAs. IOMSN has concluded that this project is fair balanced and accurate and is valid for educational purposes.

Statement of Need

With the increasing role of nurse practitioners and physician assistants in US patient care and drug selection and the growing burden of multiple sclerosis despite medications proven safe and effective for the management of the condition, nurse practitioners and physician assistants require education on the latest diagnostic techniques, medications options, and management strategies to promote patient compliance and improve clinical and quality-of-life outcomes.

Target Audience

This activity is designed for nurse practitioners and physician assistants.

Learning Objectives

After completing this activity, participants should be able to:

• Incorporate recent advances in multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis into clinical practice
• Summarize the benefits and limitations of disease-modifying therapies for MS
• Define the importance of early and aggressive MS management to limit disease progression
• Educate patients on the need for persistent therapy to promote medication compliance
• List the frequent MS comorbidities and effective management approaches

Credit Eligibility

To be eligible for documentation of credit, participants must participate in the full educational activity, complete the 10-question post-test with a score of 70% or better, and complete the evaluation form. Participants who successfully complete the post-test and evaluation form online may immediately print their documentation of credit.

Participants who have successfully completed the live version of this activity are not eligible to receive credit for this enduring material.

Release Date: September 4, 2008

Expiration Date: September 4, 2009

Estimated time to complete: 1 hour

There is no fee associated with this activity.

Lecture Components

The audio/video presentation, post-test, and evaluation form are available as a click through, via the menu at the top of the page.

CME Accreditation (Accepted for Physician Assistants)

The University of Kentucky College of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The University of Kentucky College of Medicine designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

The University of Kentucky College of Medicine presents this activity for educational purposes only. Participants are expected to utilize their own expertise and judgment while engaged in the practice of medicine. The content of the presentations is provided solely by presenters who have been selected for presentations because of recognized expertise in their field.

The University of Kentucky is an Equal Opportunity University.

University of Kentucky College of Medicine test code: MEN09023

The National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants accepts AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ from organizations accredited by the ACCME.

AANP Accreditation

This program has been approved for 1.0 contact hours of continuing education by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. Program ID 0805257.

Grant Support

Supported by an educational grant from Teva Neuroscience

Faculty

Main Presenter

Howard L. Zwibel, MD
Medical Director
Multiple Sclerosis Center
Baptist Health Doctors’ Hospital
Coral Gables, Florida

Clinical Case Presenter

Amy Perrin Ross, APN, MSN, CNRN, MSCN
Neuroscience Program Coordinator
Loyola University Medical Center
Maywood, Illinois

Independent Clinical Reviewer

Colleen E. Miller, RN, BS, MS, DNS
The W.C. Baird Multiple Sclerosis Center
Jacobs Neurological Institute
Buffalo, New York.

Financial Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest

According to the disclosure policy of the University of Kentucky College of Medicine and NACCME-Princeton CME, faculty, editors, managers, and other individuals who are in a position to control content are required to disclose any relevant financial relationships with relevant commercial companies related to this activity.  All relevant conflicts of interest that are identified are reviewed for potential conflicts of interest. If a conflict is identified, it is the responsibility of the University of Kentucky College of Medicine and NACCME-Princeton CME to initiate a mechanism to resolve the conflict(s). The existence of these interests or relationships is not viewed as implying bias or decreasing the value of the presentation.
 
All educational materials are reviewed for fair balance, scientific objectivity of studies reported, and levels of evidence.

The faculty has reported the following:

Dr. Zwibel: Speaker—Teva Neuroscience Inc.; Consultant—Biogen Idec, Merck & Co. Inc., Teva Neuroscience

Ms. Perrin Ross: Speaker/Consultant—Bayer HealthCare, EMD Sorono Inc., Genentech, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer Inc., Teva Neuroscience

Dr. Miller: Consultant—Biogen Idec, Eisai

Planning Committee Mandy Johnson, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Randy Robbin, John Savage, Rosemary Hodgson, and William Kormos, NACCME-Princeton CME have disclosed no relevant financial relationships with any commercial interests.

The University of Kentucky College of Medicine and NACCME-Princeton CME require faculty to inform participants whenever off-label/unapproved uses of drugs or devices are discussed in their presentation.

The faculty has disclosed that no off-label/unapproved uses of drugs or devices will be discussed.

Editor’s Note: With approval from the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, this continuing medical education activity includes medication brand names for participant clarity purposes only, due to like-named chemicals. No product promotion or recommendations should be inferred.

Privacy Policy

NACCME-Princeton CME protects the privacy of personal and other information regarding participants, educational partners, and joint sponsors. NACCME-Princeton CME and our joint sponsors will not release personally identifiable information to a third party without the individual's consent, except such information as is required for reporting purposes to the appropriate accrediting agency.

NACCME-Princeton CME maintains physical, electronic and procedural safeguards that comply with federal regulations to guard your nonpublic personal information. 

Copyright © 2008 by North American Center for Continuing Medical Education, LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this accredited continuing education activity may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without first obtaining permission from the North American Center for Continuing Medical Education.