NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND SYMPOSIUM GOAL

The objective of this course is to provide an extensive review of clinical cardiology emphasizing newer concepts of diagnosis, decision making, pharmacology and therapy. The course is designed primarily for the primary care physician, clinical cardiologist, internist, and allied cardiac care personnel. Instruction is carried out through lectures and open discussions, providing opportunity for questions and answers between participants and faculty.

To ensure prompt dissemination of important new developments in the treatment and management of patients with cardiac disease, peer-to-peer continuing medical education is essential.  This program should enable the participant to understand and appropriately use the range of diagnostic and therapeutic modalities in cardiac disease.

EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of this symposium, participants should be better able to:

- Describe the roles of various types of echocardiography in clinical practice for patients undergoing Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy.

- Discuss the incidence and high-risk characteristics associated with atrial fibrillation.

- Compare the efficacy of surgical ablation therapy versus catheter ablation therapy in the treatment of atrial fibrillation.

- Analyze treatment options for patients with persistent atrial fibrillation after failed catheter ablation.

- List differing pharmacological strategies for managing atrial fibrillation including use of drugs and/or pacemakers to control the ventricular response during AF vs. use of drugs to convert and/or maintain normal sinus rhythm (NSR).

- Compare and contrast both classic and contemporary approaches to diagnosis and management of cardiac arrhythmias.

- Discuss the implementation of new developments in the management of supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias.

- Review the management role of brady- and tachyarrhythmias using device-based therapies and strategies for the prevention of sudden cardiac death and resynchronization therapy for the treatment of heart failure.

- Evaluate the role of device therapy in cardiac patients.

- Examine new technologies for integrating optimal medical therapy with device therapy in the treatment of heart failure.

TARGET AUDIENCE

This activity has been designed to meet the educational needs of primary care physicians and other healthcare providers interested in acquiring additional knowledge concerning cardiac disorders in the patient population.

ACCREDITATION AND CREDITS

EXCEL Continuing Education is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

EXCEL Continuing Education designates this educational activity for a maximum of five AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.  Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

FACULTY DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

As a provider accredited by the ACCME, it is the policy of EXCEL Continuing Education to require disclosure of the existence of any significant financial interest or any other relationship the faculty members have with the manufacturer(s) of any commercial product(s) discussed in an educational presentation.  Any discussions of unlabeled/unapproved uses of drugs or devices will be disclosed to the audience prior to the activity.  Full disclosure will be made in the course materials.