Managed Care Approaches to Atrial Fibrillation: Minimizing the Burden of Disease-Case Vignettes

Managed Care Approaches to Atrial Fibrillation: Minimizing the Burden of Disease

On-Demand Case Vignettes

Sponsored by North American Center for Continuing Medical Education, LLC

Faculty

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

William J. Cardarelli, PharmD
Director of Pharmacy
Atrius Health
Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates
Watertown, Massachusetts

Target Audience

This activity is designed for managed markets physicians and pharmacists.

Learning Objectives

After completing this activity, participants should be able to:

Identify the clinical and economic burden of atrial fibrillation (AF)
Promote clinician adherence to guideline-directed and evidence-based practice
Outline the safety, efficacy, and pharmacoeconomics of current and emerging medications and procedures in short- and long-term AF management
Assist clinicians in optimizing AF outcomes through evidence-based care

Activity Overview

This on-demand case vignette series consists of 4 patient case studies, with polling questions integrated throughout each case.

To be eligible for documentation of credit, participants must review each case study, answer all polling questions, and complete the evaluation form. After successful completion of the evaluation form online at www.naccme.com, participants may immediately print their documentation of credit.

Release date: December 21, 2009

Expiration date: December 21, 2010

Estimated time to complete: 2 hours

There is no fee associated with this activity.

This educational activity is an application-based activity.

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.

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 2 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. 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 2 contact hours (0.2 CEUs) of continuing pharmacy education (UAN 276-000-09-033-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.

Independent Clinical Reviewer: Marco Mercader, MD, Associate Professor, Cardiology and Cardiac Electrophysiology, George Washington University Medical Faculty Associates, Washington, DC

Planning Committee

The planning committee comprises Joseph S. Alpert, MD, William J. Cardarelli, PharmD, Marco Mercader, MD; Kristin Dickie, Mary Johnson, Randy Robbin, John Savage, and Jessica Steuerman, 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—Bayer–DSMB Chair, Johnson & Johnson; Consultant—Astellas Pharma US, Inc, AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Novartis, Pfizer Inc, Roche Diagnostics, sanofi-aventis U.S.; Scientific advisor—sanofi-aventis U.S.
Dr. Cardarelli and Dr. Mercader disclosed no relevant financial relationships with any commercial interests.

Ms. Dickie, Ms. Johnson, Mr. Robbin, Mr. Savage, and Ms. Steuerman 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 that the following off-label/unapproved uses of drugs and/or devices will be discussed: The use of amiodarone, atenolol, bretylium, celivarone, dabigatran, diliazem, disopyramide, lidocaine, metoprolol, mexiletine, pilsicainide, procainamide, propranolol, ranolazine, selodenoson, tecadenoson, tedisamil, verapamil, and vernakalant for the treatment of AF.

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 accrediting 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, LLC.

Grant Support

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