Improving Outcomes in Patients with Heart Failure: Closing the Gaps

Presented by:

Stuart Russell, MD
Professor of Medicine
Duke University School of Medicine
Regional Director of Heart Failure
Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC

TARGET AUDIENCE: Cardiologists, emergency medicine physicians, hospitalists, internal medicine and primary care physicians, nurse practitioners (NPs), physician assistants (PAs), nurses, and other clinicians who care for patients with heart failure (HF).

STATEMENT OF NEED: In the United States, HF affects about 5.7 million adults, accounts for >1 million hospitalizations annually, and is the leading cause of hospitalization for adults >65 years of age. Despite diagnostic and therapeutic advances in the last several decades and improved survival rates, roughly 50% of people with HF die within 5 years of diagnosis. Rates of cardiovascular death or HF-related hospitalization are greatest for people who have been previously hospitalized for HF, particularly older adults. All clinicians who encounter patients with HF have a role to play in improving patients’ health-related quality of life while reducing symptoms, hospitalizations, and mortality. This case-based presentation will examine in-hospital management, transition after hospital discharge, and initiation of guideline-directed medical therapy for outpatient care.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

Upon completion of this educational activity, the participant should be able to:

1. Describe the most recent evidence-based guidelines for the management of HF in the hospital, during transition from in-hospital to outpatient, and in outpatient settings, including the role of newly approved agents.
2. Create individualized plans for managing patients with acute HF and transitioning these patients from the hospital to an outpatient situation.
3. Create individualized plans for managing patients with HF in the outpatient setting.

Full faculty disclosure will be provided in the program materials.

CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT:

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of Penn State College of Medicine and MCM Education. Penn State College of Medicine is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Penn State College of Medicine designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)^TM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

For questions regarding CME credit, contact Penn State Continuing Education at 717-531-6483 or ContinuingEd@hmc.psu.edu. Please reference activity code G6127O-18-Z.  Supported by an independent educational grant from Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation.

*Food will be served