Patient-Centered Approaches to the Evaluation and Management of Atrial Fibrillation

On-Demand Audio Webcast

Sponsored by North American Center for Continuing Medical Education, LLC

Presenter

Joseph S. Alpert, MD
Professor of Medicine
University of Arizona College of Medicine
Tucson, Arizona
Editior-in-Chief
The American Journal of Medicine

Target Audience

This activity is intended to meet the educational needs of cardiologists, electrophysiologists, internal medicine physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, and pharmacists.

Learning Objectives

After completing this activity, participants should be able to:

1. Develop and/or implement protocols for early atrial fibrillation patient risk stratification and evaluation to ensure optimal treatment selection
2. Describe the latest evidence regarding the benefits and limitations of rate versus rhythm control in atrial fibrillation management
3. Explain 2006 ACC/AHA/ESC and 2007 HRS/EHRA/ECAS guideline updates and challenges associated with translating guidelines into practice
4. Evaluate the benefits and limitations of atrial fibrillation medications and procedures, factoring in updated guidelines and patient characteristics to optimize outcomes

Activity Overview

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

There is no fee associated with this activity.

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

Release Date: September 21, 2009

Expiration Date: September 21, 2010

Estimated time to complete: 1 hour

For questions regarding this educational activity, please contact Angela Scarnici at 609-371-1137.

Hardware/Software Requirements

All educational activities are accessible via a computer with 650 MHz PC, 128 MB RAM, Windows or MAC operating system, Internet Explorer, Netscape or Safari browsers. Windows Media Player, sound card, and speakers are required for streamed audio. Flash Player, sound card, and speakers are required for video programs. A pdf reader is required for print publications. Please direct technical questions to webmaster@naccme.com.

This educational activity is an application-based activity.

CME Accreditation

North American Center for Continuing Medical Education, LLC (NACCME) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

NACCME 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.

CPE Accreditation

North American Center for Continuing Medical Education, LLC (NACCME) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. This activity is approved for 1.0 contact hour (0.1 CEU) of continuing pharmacy education (UAN 276-000-09-014-H01-P).

Any participant wanting to file a grievance with respect to any aspect of a continuing pharmacy education activity accredited by NACCME may contact John Savage, Director, Medical Education, NACCME, in writing at 300 Rike Drive, Suite A, Millstone Township, NJ 08535, or by e-mail at jsavage@naccme.com. The Director of Medical Education will review the grievance and respond within 30 days of receiving the written statement. If the participant is unsatisfied with the response, an appeal to the Vice President, Medical Education, NACCME, may be made for a second level of review.

CNE Accreditation

North American Center for Continuing Medical Education, LLC (NACCME) is an approved provider of continuing nursing education by the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. This continuing nursing education activity was approved by the PA State Nurses Association for 1 contact hour. Provider #: 110-3-E-06. 

Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number 13255 for 1.0 contact hours.

Independent Clinical Reviewers

Marsha Holton, CCRN, RCIS, FSICP, President and Founder, Cardiovascular Orientation Programs, Indian Head, Maryland, and Marco Mercader, MD, George Washington University, Washington, DC  

Planning Committee

The planning committee comprises Joseph S. Alpert, MD, Marsha Holton, CCRN, RCIS, FSICP, Marco Mercader, MD; Asher Block, Rosemary Hodgson, William Kormos, Emilie McCardell, Tiffney Oliver, Randy Robbin, John Savage, and Richard Michael Tyska, PharmD, NACCME.

Financial Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest

According to the disclosure policy of NACCME, 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 NACCME 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. Alpert: Grant/Research Support—Johnson & Johnson, Bayer AG; Consultant—sanofi-aventis, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer Inc., Astellas Pharma Inc, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, Roche Diagnostics; Scientific Advisor—sanofi-aventis

Ms. Holton: Has disclosed no relevant financial relationships with any commercial interests.

Dr. Mercader: Consultant—Medtronic, Inc.

Mr. Block, Ms. Hodgson, Mr. Kormos, Ms. McCardell, Ms. Oliver, Mr. Robbin, Mr. Savage, and Dr. Tyska have disclosed no relevant financial relationships with any commercial interests.

NACCME requires faculty to inform participants whenever off-label/unapproved uses of drugs and/or devices are discussed in their presentations.

The faculty has disclosed the following off-label/unapproved use(s) of drugs and/or devices will be discussed: The use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin-receptor blockers, celivarone, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, omega-3 fish oil, pilsicainide, ranolazine, selodenoson, tecadenoson, tedisamil, and vernakalant for the treatment of atrial fibrillation; the use of apixiban, dabigatran etexilate, idraparinux, rivaroxaban, and SSR 126517 as anticoagulant therapy in atrial fibrillation.

Privacy Policy

NACCME protects the privacy of personal and other information regarding participants, educational partners, and joint sponsors. NACCME 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 reporting agency.

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

Copyright © 2009 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 North American Center for Continuing Medical Education.

Grant Support

Supported by an educational grant from sanofi-aventis U.S.