program details

This CME program covers late breaking clinical trials, hot topics in cardiology, interventional cardiology, and unique disease management discussions.

This program provides expert coverage of late breaking trial news and balanced clinical information covered on the behalf of ClinicalTrialResults.org. A variety of current topics in cardiology and disease management were captured during the March 2008 ACC annual meeting held in Chicago, IL.

Release date: 07/11/08
Expiration date: 07/11/09

PURPOSE STATEMENT
Increase the knowledge of the target audience on new pharmacological agents for atrial fibrillation, safety and efficacy of further loading doses of clopidogrel for patients who are already taking clopidogrel and undergoing PCI, safety and efficacy of increasing the initial loading doses of clopidogrel in patients undergoing PCI, safety and efficacy of prasugrel + aspirin versus clopidogrel + aspirin for PCI patients, the benefit of early administration of an increased bolus of tirofiban in MI patients prior to PCI, the efficacy of telmisartan and cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) compared with optimal medical therapy in cardiac patients.

TARGET AUDIENCE
Cardiology Physicians

• Describe the current status of antiarrthymic drug thereapy for atrial fibrillation, specifically for the treatment of atrial fibrillation after valvular or coronary artery bypass (CABG) surgery. ^1,2,3,4,5
  
  
• Evaluate the potential benefit of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) with or without an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) on disease progression over 12 months in patients with asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic heart failure and ventricular dyssynchrony. ^6,7,8
  
  
• Describe the potential benefit for patients who are at high-risk for developing cardiovascular disease related to treatment with either telmisartan or telmisartan and ramipril combined therapy.^9,10,11
  
  
• Explain the current status regarding the safety and efficacy of a further loading dose of clopidogrel given to patients already taking chronic clopidogrel, specifically in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). ¹²
  
  
• Define the current status regarding the safety and efficacy prasugrel + aspirin versus clopidogrel + aspirin in ACS patients who will undergo a PCI procedure, in particular patients who will receive stents. ^13,14
  
  
• Describe the current status regarding the safety and efficacy of increased initial loading doses of clopidogrel in patients who will undergo PCI.¹⁵
  
  
• Evaluate the potential benefit of early administration of an increased bolus of tirofiban in MI patients prior to PCI. ^{16,17,18,19,20}

LEARNING OBJECTIVE SUPPORT REFERENCES
Click here.

FACULTY
Peter Kowey, MD
Cecilia Linde, MD
Peter Sleight, MD, FACC
Germano Di Sciascio, MD, FACC, FESC
Steve Wiviott, MD
Christian Hamm, MD
Patrick Gladding, MD

ACCME
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education through the joint sponsorship of Medical Education Collaborative, Inc. (MEC) and Center for Healthcare Education. The Medical Education Collaborative is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physician.

Medical Education Collaborative designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

For questions regarding the accreditation of this activity, please contact Medical Education Collaborative at (303) 420-3252 or inquire@meccme.org.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR RECEIVING CME CREDIT
Viewers are expected to visit all presentations before attempting to take the test and activity evaluation. Successful completion will lead to the issuance of a certificate for 1.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s) ™. To receive credit, the course must be completed before July 11, 2009.

Participation in this activity should be completed in approximately 1.75 hours. Please follow these steps in order to receive CME credit for viewing the webcast:

• Read the target audience, objectives, faculty disclosures, accreditation statements and commercial supporter(s).

• Complete the online registration (registration is free).

• After listening to all the presentations, print out the post-test, evaluation form, and credit application.

• Complete the post-test, and mail or fax the post-test, evaluation form, and credit application to the address listed below.

• Participants must receive a test score of at least 75% and submit a completed evaluation form and credit application to receive a certificate by the CME provider.

• Please allow 3-4 weeks to receive a certificate.

NOTE: Participants who attended the live activity held on March 29 – April 1, 2008 in Chicago, IL are not eligible to receive credit for this online activity.

Medical Education Collaborative 651 Corporate Circle, Suite #104 Golden, CO 80401 866.420.3252 Fax: 303.420.3259

DISCLOSURE
Medical Education Collaborative adheres to all accrediting board's policies and procedures, including the Standards for Commercial Support regarding industry support of continuing medical education. In order to resolve any identified conflicts of interest, disclosure information is provided during the planning process to ensure resolution of any identified conflicts. Disclosure of faculty and commercial relationships, as well as the discussion of unlabeled or unapproved use of any drug, device, or procedure by the faculty, are made known below.

Employees of Medical Education Collaborative, the accredited provider for this activity, or their spouse/life partner do not have any financial relationships or relationships to products or devices with any commercial interests related to the content of this CME activity for any amount during the past 12 months.

Employees of The Center for Healthcare Education,  the joint sponsor for this activity, or their spouse/life partner do not have any financial relationships or relationships to products or devices with any commercial interests related to the content of this CME activity for any amount during the past 12 months.

SPONSOR INFORMATION
This activity is jointly-sponsored by Medical Education Collaborative and Center for Healthcare Education.

COMMERCIAL SUPPORT INFORMATION
This activity is supported by educational grants from Astellas, Bristol-Myers Squibb/Sanofi Pharmaceuticals, Daiichi Sankyo Lilly, and Scios.

LEGAL DISCLAIMER
The opinions expressed in this educational activity are those of the faculty and do not reflect the views of Medical Education Collaborative and Center for Healthcare Education. This educational activity may discuss off-label and/or investigational uses and dosages for therapeutic products/procedures that have not been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Medical Education Collaborative and Center for Healthcare Education do not recommend the use of any product/procedure outside of the labeled indications. A qualified health care professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product/procedure discussed. All readers and continuing education participants should verify all information and data before treating patients or employing any therapies described in this continuing education activity.  Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product/procedures for approved indication, contraindications, and warnings.