CONFERENCE NEED, GOAL & OBJECTIVES

Overall Need:

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Michigan. Michigan's citizens rank among the worst in the nation for such CVD risk factors as smoking, high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes. As the population needing cardiac care increases and the science of cardiology becomes ever more complex, it is imperative that the cardiac care team remain current on the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease and continue to explore the optimum methods for the delivery and measurement of quality cardiovascular care.

Overall Goal:

The overall goal of this activity is to enhance learner competence by discovering strategies to anticipate research-driven changes in practice performance, to further develop clinical skills needed to improve patient outcomes in rapidly evolving areas, and to recognize new strategies for the delivery of quality cardiovascular care. It will provide needs-based learning on issues of primary importance to the cardiac care team.

Learner Objectives:

* Synthesize current science and cutting edge technology to identify the optimum evidence-based treatment strategies.

* Discuss new advances in the management of atrial fibrillation.

* Identify therapies, other than statins, that are effective in patients with cardiovascular disease to treat dyslipidemia, limit atherosclerosis and improve clinical outcomes.

* Review new recommendations in the management of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

* Discuss new data and evidence regarding PCI for left main disease compared with coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

* Examine current guidelines for STEMI and new advances in the field since the revised update was published in 2009.

* Discuss appropriateness criteria for cardiac imaging procedures, and how healthcare reform will impact cardiac imaging in the next few years.

* Recognize when patients with severe mitral regurgitation require surgical intervention.

* Discuss how to optimally treat patients with resistant hypertension.

* Review the ACC/AHA and NHLBI clinical guidelines on PAD disease and articulate appropriate treatment goals.

* Recommend the necessary procedural steps to prevent complications associated with PCI.

* Review the results of surveys done with STEMI receiving & referral hospitals in Michigan & identify barriers &/or gaps encountered by these hospitals in creating systems of care.

* Review AHA/ACC guidelines regarding the creation of STEMI systems of care and articulate the importance of conducting process improvement efforts which involve all members in the STEMI system of care including EMS, referral and receiving hospitals.

* Identify the elements of the Mission: Lifeline Hospital Recognition program.

* Review and articulate new developments and care recommendations in the field of STEMI care.

* Compare management options for adults with CHD as outlined in the ACC/AHA guidelines as well as an understanding of controversies surrounding coarctation management and approaches to stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation.

* Discuss clinical applications where multi-modality imaging aids in the diagnosis and management of patients with cardiovascular disease.

* Recognize and apply current/new ASE and ACC Guidelines regarding valve disease (including prosthetic valves) and thoracic aortic disease.

* Review appropriateness criteria, radiation risk exposure and reduction techniques, and important clinical applications in patients who undergo cardiac CT angiography.

See Cardiometabolic Risk Reduction Program details on home page.