The Chest Pain Kingdom: Triage, Technologies & Treatment
The Eleventh Congress of Chest Pain Centers
April 24th, 2008
Presented by the University of Massachusetts Medical School
Supported by educational grants from: Biosite Incorporated, Cincinnati Sub-Zero, Heartscape Technologies, Innercool Therapies, Molecular Insight Pharmaceuticals, and sanofi aventis
Date of release: August 2008, Date of expiration: August 2009
Estimated time to complete this educational activity: 2.5 hours or 30 minutes each section
Continuing education credit:
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 The University of Massachusetts Medical School and Medavera. The University of Massachusetts Medical School is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The University of Massachusetts Medical School designates this educational activity for a maximum of 2.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™.Each section is accredited for 0.5 hrs and there is a post-test after each presentation. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
This offering meets the requirement for 3.0 contact hours for nurses as specified by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing - 244 CMR 5.04. Each section is accredited for 0.6 contact hours and there is a post-test after each presentation.
Statement of Need:
The risk for cardiovascular event is highest at the time of presentation and subsequently declines; however, the risk remains high past this acute phase. By 6 months, UA/NSTEMI mortality rates are higher than after ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Events that occur later are more related to the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms that trigger plaque activity and that mark active atherosclerosis. This educational program will address the diagnosis and treatment of ACS and will assess new modalities available to improve patient management.
Intended Audience:
This program is designed or emergency medicine physicians and cardiologists, emergency medicine nurses and nurse practitioners and hospital administrators with an interest in cardiovascular disease.
Learning Objectives:
1. Appraise new diagnostics and technologies which may potentially improve the management and treatment of patients with acute coronary syndrome.
2. Assess traditional and new biomarkers and a multimarker approach in ACS risk stratification.
3. Compare the benefit and risks of fibrinolytic therapies and evaluate current clinical trial data and indications for usage.
4. Identify challenges and difficulties associated with clinical trials assessing cardiovascular outcomes in studying patients with unstable angina/non-ST-segment elevation.
5. Apply the most recent American Heart Association/ American College of Cardiology treatment guidelines in the care and treatment of patients with UA/NSTEMI.
6. Determine potential strategies to streamline transitions between emergency medicine¬ departments and cardiac units.