Featured Online CME Activities

ONLINE CME Opportunities

Improving Medication Adherence: The Evolving Role of Technology (Parts 1-3)

Medication adherence remains a persistent and pertinent issue in health care. Nonadherence poses challenges to adequate control of the target condition and often leads to further unnecessary complications. Many of the latest practice management and communication technologies afford clinicians the opportunity improve patient medication adherence.

This online series will focus on how EHR tools and functions can improve medication adherence; how to use mobile and digital communication to promote medication adherence; how social media can help you communicate and work with your patient population

There are three programs associated with this CME activity:

1. Electronic Health Records to Improve Medication Adherence

2. Mobile Health (mHealth) and Digital Communication to Improve Medication Adherence

3. Social Media to Improve Medication Adherence

This enduring material activity, Improving Medication Adherence: The Evolving Role of Technology, has been reviewed and is acceptable for up to 1.50 Prescribed credits by the American Academy of Family Physicians. AAFP accreditation begins June 22, 2011. Term of approval is for one year from this date. Each webcast is approved for .50 Prescribed Credit may be claimed for one year from the date of each webcast. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

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Improving Medication Adherence: The Evolving Role of Technology (Parts 4-6)

Medication adherence remains a persistent and pertinent issue in health care. Nonadherence poses challenges to adequate control of the target condition and often leads to further unnecessary complications. Many of the latest practice management and communication technologies afford clinicians the opportunity improve patient medication adherence.

This online series will focus on how EHR tools and functions can improve medication adherence; how to use mobile and digital communication to promote medication adherence; how social media can help you communicate and work with your patient population

There are three programs associated with this CME activity:

1. EHRs and Medication Adherence

2. Mobile Health & Digital Communication and Medication Adherence

3. Social Media and Medication Adherence

This enduring material activity, Improving Medication Adherence: The Evolving Role of Technology (Parts 4-6), has been reviewed and is acceptable for up to 1.50 Prescribed credits by the American Academy of Family Physicians. AAFP accreditation begins December 16, 2011. Term of approval is for one year from this date. Each webcast is approved for .50 Prescribed Credit may be claimed for one year from the date of each webcast. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their
participation in the activity.

Click here to view this online CME activity

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Before the Break: Identifying and Treating Patients at Risk for Osteoporosis

The goal of this continuing medical education activity is to increase primary care providers' knowledge of the rationale and importance of osteoporosis screening and treatment, as well as to expand their ability to implement effective strategies to prevent, detect, and treat osteoporosis, ultimately helping patients avoid much of the damaging consequences this disease.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify patients at risk for osteoporatic fracture

2. Compare the risks and benefits of lifestyle and available pharmacologic approaches to therapy

This enduring material activity, Before the Break: Identifying and Treating Patients At-Risk for Osteoporosis, has been reviewed and is acceptable for up to 0.50 Prescribed credits by the American Academy of Family Physicians. AAFP accreditation begins July 22, 2011. Term of approval is for one year from this date. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

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Barriers to Effectively Managing Chronic Constipation in Older Adults

Chronic constipation can dramatically impact quality of life and lead to serious medical problems. Older adults are at particular risk due to additional chronic disease burdens, immobility, and/or functional limitations. Recognizing chronic constipation can be a challenge, mainly because there is a significant disconnect between patient and clinician perceptions of constipation. Effective management of chronic constipation requires a combination of patient and provider education, lifestyle and/or pharmacologic modifications, and the judicious use of pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic therapies.

This interactive newsletter will examine considerations for patient evaluation and assessment and explore common barriers that can hinder management. With an improved understanding of the condition and its management, primary, geriatric, and long-term care providers can help lessen the burden of chronic constipation and significantly improve the lives of the older adults in their care.

Learning Objectives:

1. Explain how to improve the evaluation and assessment of chronic constipation in older adults

2. List ways to overcome common barriers that hinder the management of chronic constipation

This Enduring Material activity, Clinical Insights in Geriatrics: Barriers to Effectively Managing Chronic Constipation in Older Adults, has been reviewed and is acceptable for up to 0.50 Prescribed credit(s) by the American Academy of Family Physicians. AAFP accreditation begins August 15, 2011. Term of approval is for one year from this date. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

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Anemia of Chronic Kidney Disease in the Older Patient Population: Selecting the Appropriate Treatment

The treatment of related anemia of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in older adults remains a major clinical challenge. Anemia is a common finding in older adults. Although anemia is often asymptomatic, even mild untreated anemia can lead to adverse outcomes, such as hospitalization, disability, and death. In order to effectively manage these patients, primary care providers and other senior care clinicians need to be competent in the appropriate recognition and differential diagnosis of anemia, as well as the evidence-based strategies for treating anemia, especially in those with anemia of CKD.

Despite the benefits of therapy, anemia of CKD often is not treated. This may be because clinicians are not aware of the consequences of anemia or do not view it as a threatening condition. Once therapy is started, appropriate monitoring ensures that therapy with an erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) is safe and effective. Data has shown that clinicians may be unaware not only of appropriate hemoglobin goals, but recommended timing for obtaining ESA hemoglobin levels. Anemia may lead to decreased functionality and quality of life in older patients. Because of its high prevalence and negative impact on older adults, continuing education in this area is essential for clinicians who serve this population.

Learning Objectives:

1. Implement appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for patients with anemia of CKD

2. Individualize target hemoglobin levels for patients receiving ESA therapy

3. Titrate ESA therapy to maintain hemoglobin levels in the individualized target range 

4. Monitor and maintain iron levels to optimize anemia management

This Enduring Material activity, Anemia of Chronic Kidney Disease in the Older Patient Population: Selecting the Appropriate Treatment, has been reviewed and is acceptable for up to 0.50 Prescribed credits by the American Academy of Family Physicians. AAFP accreditation begins September 9, 2011. Term of approval is for one year from this date. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

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Improving Chronic Constipation Management for Older Adults Through a Comphrehensive Approach

Chronic constipation in older adults can dramatically impact quality of life and lead to serious medical problems. The estimated prevalence of chronic constipation in the U.S. is between 2 and 27%, but increases to 40% among people over 65 years of age. Older adults are at particular risk due to additional chronic disease burdens, immobility, and/or functional limitations.

Effective management of chronic constipation requires a combination of provider and patient education, lifestyle and/or pharmacologic modifications, and the judicious use of pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic therapies.

This interactive newsletter will describe a comprehensive approach to care and outline considerations for tailoring treatment for individual patients. With an improved understanding of the condition and its management, primary, geriatric, and long-term care providers can help lessen the burden of chronic constipation and significantly improve the lives of the older adults in their care.

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe how a comprehensive approach is more likely to lead to effective treatment plans for older adults who have chronic constipation.

2. Outline the role of pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic management strategies for patients who have chronic constipation. 

This Enduring Material activity, Clinical Insights in Geriatrics: Improving Chronic Constipation Management for Older Adults Through a Comprehensive Approach, has been reviewed and is acceptable for up to 0.50 Prescribed credit(s) by the American Academy of Family Physicians. AAFP accreditation begins September 15, 2011. Term of approval is for one year from this date. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Click here to view this online CME activity

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Pain Management in Older Adults: Improving Assessment and Treatment

A significant majority of older adults experience pain that may interfere with normal functioning. The ramifications of this extend far beyond the pain itself, increasing the risk of depression, care complexity, sleep problems, and hospitalization, as well as reducing patient quality of life and increasing overall costs. Numerous barriers interfere with the ability of clinicians to provide adequate pain management for seniors, including regulatory and reimbursement issues, patient comorbidities, concern about side effects, and the cognitive issues and dementia many of these patients experience.

Despite significant advances in drug development, pain remains inadequately managed in older adults. Primary care providers and other senior care clinicians require education about the most recent guidelines for pain management in the older patient, opportunities to improve the treatment of pain, and new and emerging medications and nonpharmacologic approaches that can improve the assessment and management of pain in this growing population.

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe strategies to improve pain assessment and evaluation in older adult patients

2. Identify opportunities to deliver guideline-based care to older adult patients with pain

This Enduring Material activity, Pain Management in Older Adults: Improving Assessment and Treatment, has been reviewed and is acceptable for up to 0.50 Prescribed credits by the American Academy of Family Physicians. AAFP accreditation begins September 30, 2011. Term of approval is for one year from this date. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

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Successfully Diagnosing and Managing Overactive Bladder in Older Adults to Optimize Outcomes

Overactive bladder (OAB) is the most common cause of urinary incontinence or loss of bladder control in adults and affects approximately 33 million Americans. While OAB affects people of all ages, the medical issue of OAB is of particular importance in the older adult population with prevalence greatly increasing in older individuals. The symptoms of OAB-urge urinary incontinence (UI), urgency, and urinary frequency-often lead to further medical and psychological problems and can have a devastating impact on quality of life.

Primary and long-term care physicians, pharmacists, nursing directors, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners have the opportunity to improve outcomes for older adults with OAB by more thoroughly identifying patients who suffer from OAB, by more consistently providing effective OAB treatment, and by increasing the use of strategies to promote patient adherence to OAB treatment recommendations. The goal of this continuing medical education activity is to expand the ability of primary care providers and other senior care clinicians to provide optimal care for older adults experiencing OAB, ultimately improving outcomes for the many older individuals who suffer from OAB.

Learning objectives:

1. Implement strategies to improve the detection and diagnosis of overactive bladder.

2. Develop effective individualized treatment plans for older adults with overactive bladder.

3. Communicate with patients realistic goals of therapy and the importance of adherence to treatment.

4. Minimize medication side effects in treatment plans for older adults with overactive bladder.

This Enduring Material activity, Successfully Diagnosing and Managing Overactive Bladder in Older Adults to Optimize Outcomes, has been reviewed and is acceptable for up to 0.50 Prescribed credits by the American Academy of Family Physicians. AAFP accreditation begins November 18, 2011. Term of approval is for one year from this date. Physicians should claim only the credit
commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Click here to view this online CME activity

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Managing Pain in Older Adults with Cognitive Impairment

A significant majority of older adults experience pain that may interfere with normal functioning. The ramifications of this extend far beyond the pain itself, increasing the risk of depression, care complexity, sleep problems, and hospitalization, as well as reducing patient quality of life and increasing overall costs. Numerous barriers interfere with the ability of clinicians to provide adequate pain management for seniors, including regulatory and reimbursement issues, patient comorbidities, concern about side effects, and the cognitive issues and dementia many of these patients experience.

Despite significant advances in drug development, pain remains inadequately managed in older adults. Furthermore, diagnosing and properly managing patients with cognitive impairment is even more challenging. Primary care providers and other senior care clinicians must be up-to-date on the most effective ways to assess and monitor pain in patients with cognitive impairment.

Learning objectives:

1. Discuss the implications of cognitive impairment and dementia on the evaluation of pain in older adult patients.

2. Outline the key steps that can improve how pain is managed in older adults who have cognitive impairment and/or dementia. 

This Enduring Material activity, Managing Pain in Older Adults with Cognitive Impairment , has been reviewed and is acceptable for up to 0.50 Prescribed credits by the American Academy of Family Physicians. AAFP accreditation begins December 6, 2011. Term of approval is for one year from this date. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate
with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Click here to view this online CME activity

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Setting the Stage: Stage-Specific Treatment Options for Patients with Moderate to Severe Alzheimer's Disease 

As the US population ages, dementia syndromes such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) are growing more prevalent. Roughly 60% to 80% of elderly patients with chronic dementia have AD, a progressive condition that leads to memory loss, personality changes, cognitive dysfunction, and functional impairment. The Practice Guidelines for the Treatment of Patients With Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias, 2nd Edition (2007) and other related guidelines stress the importance of individualized and multimodal treatment plans. Recognizing symptomatology of AD at its various stages can help providers select appropriate therapies.

Continuing education is required to help primary care providers and other senior care clinicians ensure that patients are being evaluated and treated properly. Patients with dementia need to be stratified based on the severity of their disease and treated accordingly, but many providers do not know how long to treat AD since there is no established standard on the duration of treatment.

Learning objectives:

1. Describe the evidence base for the stage-specific management of patients with AD

2. Tailor pharmacotherapy based on disease stage for individuals with moderate to severe AD

This Enduring Material activity, Clinical Insights in Geriatrics: Setting the Stage: Stage-Specific Treatment Options for Patients With Moderate to Severe Alzheimer's Disease, has been reviewed and is acceptable for up to 0.50 Prescribed credits by the American Academy of Family Physicians. AAFP accreditation begins December 15, 2011. Term of approval is for one year from this date. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Click here to view this online CME activity