PCME is an accredited provider specializing in innovative continuing medical education solutions.
PCME is an accredited provider specializing in innovative continuing medical education solutions.
Despite the demonstrated efficacy of antiarrhythmics and antithrombotics in preventing atrial fibrillation (AF)-associated stroke, as well as clear guidelines prescribing their use, such treatments remain largely underused in patients with AF. This disparity defines a considerable educational and clinical performance gap among internists and cardiologists. Physicians need to be educated to better manage the risk of stroke in their medium- to high-risk AF patients, and to instruct those patients about the importance of adhering to antiarrhythmic and antithrombotic medications. Physicians also need to have a keen awareness that improved second-generation antithrombotic agents are likely to soon be available for clinical use.
This program will help to clarify issues and uncertainties about the prevention of AF-associated stroke, in order to close this educational gap among cardiologists and internists. It will improve their understanding of limitations of existing antiarrhythmic and antithrombotic agents for use in prevention of stroke associated with AF. Participants will develop a greater level of confidence in providing medical care and education to moderate- and high-risk AF patients, and in improving their adherence to medications, which will ultimately improve clinical outcomes. It will also build physician anticipation for the eminent availability of newer antithrombotic agents that may provide better protection against thromboembolic complications in AF patients, along with broader therapeutic windows and reduced need for monitoring or dose titration.
Alexander G. G. Turpie, MD, FRCP, FACP, FACC, FRCPC (Chair) (read bio)
Professor of Medicine, McMaster University
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Elaine M. Hylek, MD, MPH (read bio)
Associate Professor, Department of Medicine
Boston University Medical Center, Boston, MA
Jack Ansell, MD (read bio)
Chairman, Department of Medicine
Lenox Hill Hospital, New York, NY
Michael Ezekowitz, MBChB, DPhil (read bio)
Vice President of Lankenau Institute of Medical Research
Vice President of Clinical Research
Main Line Hospital, Wynnewood, PA
This program is intended for cardiologists and other health care professionals.
This activity was designed to address the following IOM competencies: employ evidence-based practice.
At the conclusion of this activity, participants should be able to:
The Potomac Center for Medical Education is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
The Potomac Center for Medical Education designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Potomac Center for Medical Education (PCME) adheres to the policies and guidelines, including the Standards for Commercial Support, set forth to providers by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) and all other professional organizations, as applicable, stating those activities where continuing education credits are awarded must be balanced, independent, objective, and scientifically rigorous.
All persons in a position to control the content of a continuing medical education program sponsored by the Potomac Center for Medical Education are required to disclose any relevant financial relationships with any commercial interest to PCME, as well as to learners. All conflicts are identified and resolved by PCME in accordance with the Standards for Commercial Support in advance of delivery of the activity to learners. Disclosures will be made known to the participants prior to the activity.
The content of this activity was vetted by an external medical reviewer to assure objectivity and that the activity is free of commercial bias.
The faculty reported the following relevant financial relationships that they or their spouse/partner have with commercial interests:
Alexander G. G. Turpie, MD, FRCP, FACP, FACC, FRCPC: Speaker: Bayer, Johnson and Johnson, Pfizer, Sanofi Aventis, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Portola
Elaine M. Hylek, MD, MPH: Speaker: Bristol-Myers Squibb, Bayer; Advisory Board: Sanofi Aventis, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Boehringer Ingelheim, The Medicines Company
Jack Ansell, MD: Speaker: Sanofi Aventis, Bristol-Myers Squibb; Consultant: Bayer, Bristol-Myers Squibb
Michael D. Ezekowitz, MBChB, DPhil: Consultant: Sanofi Aventis, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Portola, AstraZeneca, Wyeth, Aryx Therapeutics, Boehringer Ingelheim; Speaker: Pfizer
Non-faculty content contributors and/or reviewers reported the following relevant financial relationships that they or their spouse/partner have with commercial interests:
Barry Watkins, PhD; Brad Pine; Donna Fucello; Blair St. Amand; Dana Simpler, MD: Nothing to Disclose
The contents of some CME/CE activities may contain discussions of non-approved or off label uses of some agents mentioned. Please consult the prescribing information for full disclosure of approved uses.
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