Overview

This full-day symposium offers a comprehensive review of new diagnostic techniques and therapeutic treatments, the latest clinical trials, and state-of-the-art technology in contemporary cardiovascular medicine using concise didactic presentations, combined with a panel discussion and case presentations. Following this course, the participant should be able to formulate a practical approach to common cardiovascular disorders; identify the appropriate tests that can be used to determine the severity of the patient problem and make an accurate diagnosis; discuss the various treatment options available; and recognize how to treat and when to refer cardiac patients. This activity is expected to result in increased confidence in making a diagnosis and providing effective treatment, referral, and follow-up care with the overall goal of improving patient outcomes.

Target Audience

Family physicians, internists, cardiologists, cardiovascular thoracic surgeons, advance practice providers, nurses, allied health professionals, and other health care professionals who treat and care for patients with heart disease will benefit from attending this educational activity.

Learning Objectives

• Explain the mechanisms of supraventricular tachycardia, atrial fibrillation, and atrial flutter.
• Identify the levels of conduction block in bradycardia.
• Describe the underlying mechanisms of ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation.
• Recognize the characteristics and clinical significance of pre-excited atrial fibrillation.
• Discuss the current diagnostic and treatment options for carotid artery stenosis.
• Understand when further testing is needed prior to non-cardiac surgery.
• Understand assessment tools for gauging perioperative cardiac risk.
• Understand circumstances in which patients fall out of the usual assessment path.
• Review The Outcomes from The TRIAD Patient Safety Research on Advance Directives and POLST
• Review published rates of discordant medical care related to misunderstandings of Advance Directives and POLST
• Review the increasing trends of Wrongful Prolongation of Life litigation
• Explore new audiovisual tools to allow for more concordant medical care.
• Review how Patient to Clinical Video (Ex. MIDEO) can assure patient informed decision making and enable clinicians to allow for concordant medical care.
• Review interesting cases and cutting-edge treatments in cardiovascular medicine.
• Recognize percutaneous access site complications.
• Demonstrate effective communication strategies with midlevel providers and physicians to obtain necessary orders for site management.
• Recognize and manage percutaneous access site complications within their scope of practice.
• Review the shared decision-making process of the Heart Valve Team in evaluating patients with aortic stenosis.
• Provide an update on current procedural techniques, available technologies, and strategies for lifetime management of patients undergoing aortic valve interventions.
• Review the top 5 cardiology articles of the past year.

Accrediation

In support of improving patient care, the University of Pittsburgh is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

For more information, please visit official event page