Patient-Focused Barriers and Opportunities for Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation

On-Demand Webcast

Jointly sponsored by North American Center for Continuing Medical Education, LLC and Horizon CME

Presenter

Peter R. Kowey, MD
W.W. Smith Chair and Chief of Cardiology
Main Line Health
Professor of Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology
Jefferson Medical College
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Target Audience

This activity is intended to meet the educational needs of cardiologists, other hospital-based physicians, and allied healthcare professionals.

Learning Objectives

After completing this activity, participants should be able to:

Identify the factors that increase stroke risk in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF)
Outline the benefits, limitations, and current guidelines associated with warfarin therapy for AF-related stroke prevention
Implement guideline- and evidence-based approaches for stroke prevention in AF for patients in whom warfarin is indicated and for those in whom it is not
Summarize current data regarding antiplatelet agents and novel anticoagulants being investigated as alternatives to warfarin for AF-related stroke prevention

Activity Overview

This on-demand webcast is available with synchronized slides and integrated polling questions.

To be eligible for documentation of credit, participants must participate in the full activity, complete the 10-question online post-test with a score of 70% or better, and complete the evaluation form. After successful completion of the post-test and evaluation form online at www.naccme.com, participants may immediately print their documentation of credit.

There is no fee associated with this activity.

Participants who have successfully completed the live version of this activity are not eligible to receive credit for this enduring material.

Release Date: December 29, 2009

Expiration Date: December 29, 2010

Estimated time to complete: 1 hour

For questions regarding this educational activity, please contact Angela Scarnici at 609-371-1137.

Hardware/Software Requirements

All educational activities are accessible via a computer with 650 MHz PC, 128 MB RAM, Windows or MAC operating system, Internet Explorer, Netscape, or Safari browsers. Windows Media Player, sound card, and speakers are required for streamed audio. Flash Player, sound card, and speakers are required for video programs. A PDF reader is required for print publications. Please direct technical questions to webmaster@naccme.com.

CME Accreditation

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint sponsorship of North American Center for Continuing Medical Education, LLC (NACCME) and Horizon CME. NACCME is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

NACCME designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

CNE Accreditation

North American Center for Continuing Medical Education, LLC (NACCME) is an approved provider of continuing nursing education by the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

This continuing nursing education activity was approved for 1 contact hour.

Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider # 13255 for 1 contact hour.

Independent Clinical Reviewer: Marco Mercader, MD, George Washington University, Washington, DC

Nurse Reviewer: Marsha Holton, CCRN, RCIS, FSICP, President and Founder, Cardiovascular Orientation Programs, Indian Head, Maryland

Planning Committee

The planning committee comprises Gregory W. Albers, MD, Mark Alberts, MD, Ty Gluckman, MD, Marsha Holton, CCRN, RCIS, FSICP, Peter R. Kowey, MD, Marco Mercader, MD, and James A. Reiffel, MD; and Brian Lee, PharmD, Sara Ogdon, Horizon CME; Rosemary Hodgson, Stacey Ohana, Randy Robbin, and John Savage, NACCME.

Financial Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest

According to the disclosure policy of NACCME, faculty, editors, managers, and other individuals who are in a position to control content are required to disclose any relevant financial relationships with relevant commercial companies related to this activity. All relevant conflicts of interest that are identified are reviewed for potential conflicts of interest. If a conflict is identified, it is the responsibility of NACCME to initiate a mechanism to resolve the conflict(s). The existence of these interests or relationships is not viewed as implying bias or decreasing the value of the presentation. All educational materials are reviewed for fair balance, scientific objectivity of studies reported, and levels of evidence.

The faculty has reported the following:
Dr. Albers: Grant/Research Support—Boehringer Ingelheim, NMT Medical, Inc; Consultant—Lundbeck, NMT Medical, Inc, Boehringer Ingelheim
Dr. Alberts: Grant/Research Support/Consultant/Scientific Advisor/Promotional Speakers Bureau—Bristol-Myers Squibb, Boehringer Ingelheim, sanofi-aventis
Dr. Gluckman: Promotional Speakers Bureau—Bristol-Myers Squibb, sanofi-aventis
Ms. Holton: Has disclosed no relevant financial relationships with any commercial interest
Dr. Kowey: Consultant—sanofi-aventis, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson and Johnson, Astellas Pharma Inc., Cardiome, Merck, Astra Zeneca; Promotional Speakers Bureau—sanofi-aventis, GlaxoSmithKline; Stock Shareholder—Cardionet
Dr. Mercader: Has disclosed no relevant financial relationships with any commercial interest
Dr. Reiffel: Grant/Research Support—Boehringer Ingelheim, Johnson & Johnson; Consultant/Scientific Advisor—Astellas Pharma Inc., Cardiome, Merck, CV Therapeutics, Inc., GlaxoSmithKline, sanofi-aventis, Portola, Bristol-Myers Squibb; Promotional Speakers Bureau—Astellas Pharma Inc., CV Therapeutics, Inc., GlaxoSmithKline, sanofi-aventis

Ms. Hodgson, Ms. Ohana, Mr. Robbin, Mr. Savage, Ms. Ogdon, and Dr. Lee have disclosed no relevant financial relationships with any commercial interest.

NACCME requires faculty to inform participants whenever off-label/unapproved uses of drugs and/or devices are discussed in their presentations.

The faculty has disclosed the following off-label/unapproved use(s) of drugs and/or devices will be discussed: combination of clopidogrel and aspirin, dabigatran, and the Watchman LAA Device.

Privacy Policy

NACCME protects the privacy of personal and other information regarding participants, educational partners, and joint sponsors. NACCME and our joint sponsors will not release personally identifiable information to a third party without the individual’s consent, except such information as is required for reporting purposes to the appropriate accrediting agency. NACCME maintains physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards that comply with federal regulations to guard your nonpublic personal information.

Copyright © 2009 by North American Center for Continuing Medical Education, LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this accredited continuing education activity may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without first obtaining permission from North American Center for Continuing Medical Education.

Grant Support

Supported by educational grants from the Bristol-Myers Squibb/Sanofi Pharmaceuticals Partnership and Boehringer Ingelheim