Evaluating the Post-Pulmonary Embolism Patient: What you Need to Know

Release Date: Friday, December 14, 2018

Expiration Date: Saturday, December 14, 2019

Educational Overview
Patients with a history of acute or recurrent episodes of pulmonary embolism (PE) are at higher risk of life-threatening complications, including chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). CTEPH is believed to be caused by unresolved thromboemboli in the pulmonary artery circulation that persist following long-term treatment with anticoagulation agents. Fortunately, CTEPH is a curable condition for some patients via pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA), which remains the mainstay of treatment. However, many patients cannot undergo surgical correction and, thus, must depend on medical management. More recently, PAH-targeted therapies are being utilized in these patients, including pulmonary vasodilators and remodeling agents. These agents exhibit promise in providing alternative options for patients that cannot or prefer not to undergo PEA.

Primary care providers (PCPs), including family physicians, doctors of osteopathy, internists, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants, are typically the first-line of provider-patient contact, either during well, sick or follow-up visits, and are instrumental in patient education. However, when evaluating the post-PE patient, PCPs are often unaware of the early signs of serious complications that can result from a PE episode, such as CTEPH. Though CTEPH is curable for a large portion of patients, favorable clinical outcomes are dependent on early detection and treatment. Screening for CTEPH among PCPs remains a challenge that can severely delay referral and treatment. With greater awareness of CTEPH, PCPs can play an integral role in improving the long-term outcomes of CTEPH patients. At the conclusion of this activity, learners will be able to apply evidence-based, patient-centered strategies into their clinical practice.

Target Audience
This continuing medical education activity meets the needs of primary care providers who can contribute to screening and early detection of CTEPH among post-PE patients and who are responsible for the long-term management of post-PE patients.

Learning Objectives
Upon completing this program, participants will have greater competence to:

Identify risk factors and early signs of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) among post-pulmonary embolism (PE) patients
Apply early screening and detection approaches for patients suspected of CTEPH
Discuss the role of primary care providers as part of the multiprofessional healthcare team in the evaluation and management of the post-PE patient

Educational Format

This Online Presentation is based on the primary care CTEPH series held throughout 2018. It includes the following sections:

Identify risk factors and early signs of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) among post-pulmonary embolism (PE) patients
Apply early screening and detection approaches for patients suspected of CTEPH
Discuss the role of primary care providers as part of the multiprofessional healthcare team in the evaluation and management of the post-PE patient

Faculty

Dustin Fraidenburg, MD

Assistant Professor
Director, Pulmonary Hypertension Program
Department of Medicine
Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep and Allergy
University of Illinois at Chicago
Chicago, IL

Physicians
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education through the joint providership of the Center for Independent Healthcare Education and Vemco MedEd. Center for Independent Healthcare Education (Center) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Center for Independent Healthcare Education designates this Enduring material for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Physician Assistants
AAPA accepts AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ for the PRA from organizations accredited by ACCME.

Nurse Practitioners
Nurse Practitioners will receive certificate of AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ as this is an ACCME accredited program and its accreditation is recognized by Nurse Practitioner boards

For questions regarding accreditation, please contact info@jointsponsor.com

Method of Participation and Instruction for Credit

Review the entire CME information including target audience, learning objectives, and disclosures.
Review the activity in its entirety.
Complete the Online Post Test, Evaluation, and Credit Application form
Please note that to receive credit you must achieve a score of at least 70%.
Certificate of Credit will be emailed within 4 weeks of successful completion of the activity.

Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

In accordance with policies set forth by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), Center for Independent Healthcare Education requires all faculty members and spouses/significant others with an opportunity to affect the content of a continuing education activity to disclose any relevant financial relationships during the past 12 months with commercial interests. A commercial interest is any entity producing, marketing, reselling or distributing health care goods or services consumed by or used on patients. Relationships with commercial interests and conflicts of interest resulting from those relationships must be revealed to the audience and resolved prior to the activity.

Relevant relationships include roles such as speaker, author, consultant, independent contractor (including research), employee, investor, advisory committee member, board member, review panelist, and investigator. If a potential speaker or author indicates a possible conflict of interest, the conflict will be resolved by choosing another speaker or author for that topical area, or the slides, handouts, and/or monograph will be reviewed and approved by a qualified commercially-disinterested peer.

Disclosures
Dr. Dustin Fraidenberg, MD has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Dr. Fraidenburg does not discuss any off-label uses.

No (other) speakers, authors, planners or content reviewers have any relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Content review confirmed that the content was developed in a fair, balanced manner free from commercial bias. Disclosure of a relationship is not intended to suggest or condone commercial bias in any presentation, but it is made to provide participants with information that might be of potential importance to their evaluation of a presentation.

Fee
There is no fee to participate in this activity.

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Joint Providership
This activity is jointly provided by Center for Independent Healthcare Education and Vemco MedEd.

Commercial Support

This activity is supported by an educational grant from Bayer Pharmaceuticals.

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