Congestive Heart Failure–Updates in Management

Heart failure has reached epidemic proportions in the United States resulting in increased morbidity, mortality and health care costs. The development of the 2013 American College of Cardiology Foundation (ACCF)/American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines, which introduce quality measures for patient self-education in outpatient settings and post discharge follow-up appointments, will require some substantial shifts in the care of heart-failure patients. Initiating palliative care, depression screening and physical/cardiac rehabilitation are now essential elements of effective heart-failure care plans. Opportunities to improve the delivery of comprehensive heart-failure care and implementing strategies to improve patient outcomes are imperative in the management of this condition. This presentation will provide an overview of the rationale for these guidelines and discuss the likely future evolution of heart-failure management.

Learning Objectives
At the end of this educational activity, participants should be able to

  • Recognize optimal telephonic case management strategies for this patient population
  • Identify key elements of evidence-based management for heart failure
  • Select ACCF/AHA heart-failure-treatment guidelines for each stage of heart failure
  • Evaluate current research that is likely to define the future of heart-failure management

Presenter
Eric Ernst Eric Ernst, MD, FACC
Medical Director
C.O.R.E. Clinic for Heart Failure Management
University of Minnesota Heart Care
Minneapolis, Minnesota

About the Presenter
Eric Ernst, MD, is a Non-Invasive Cardiologist and Medical Director, of C.O.R.E. (Cardiomyopathy Optimization Rehabilitation and Education) Clinic for Heart Failure Management at the University of Minnesota Physicians Heart at Fairview. He received his Medical Doctorate from the University of Wisconsin Medical School in 1994. He completed his Cardiology Fellowship at the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics, and his Internal Medicine Residency at the Mayo Graduate School of Medicine in Rochester, Minnesota. Dr. Ernst is a Board member of the Minnesota Heart Failure Consortium, and a member of the Heart Failure Society of America. He has board certifications in both internal medicine and cardiovascular diseases.
His clinical interests include nuclear cardiology, echocardiography, heart failure and valvular heart disease.  Dr. Ernst was named as one of the Top Doctors in the Mpls. St. Paul Magazine in 2009, 2010, and 2012 and the GEM Award for improvement in hospital care of CHF patients.

Disclosures of Relevant Financial Relationships
In accordance with the ACCME Standards for Commercial SupportSM, OptumHealth Education requires all those involved in the development of activity content to disclose their relevant financial relationships. An individual has a relevant financial relationship if such person (or their spouse/partner) has a financial relationship in any amount occurring in the last 12 months with a commercial interest whose products or services are discussed in the activity content over which the individual has control. OptumHealth Education ensures that the content is independent of commercial bias.

Presenter Disclosure
The faculty reported the following:
Eric Ernst, MD, FACC
Consultant: Cardiocom

Activity Planners
Sarah Chart-Hart, RN
Senior Director
OptumHealth Education

Rebecca Gleason, RN, CCM
Activity Manager
OptumHealth Education

Activity Planner Disclosures
All of the planners reported that they are employees of and own stock in UnitedHealth Group.

Method of Participation
There are no fees for participating in or receiving credit for this activity.
For information on applicability and acceptance of continuing education credit for this activity, please consult your professional licensing board.

Participants will receive a certificate upon successful completion of the activity to include:

  • Completing the entire activity
  • Completing the Pre- and Post-activity Assessments, Activity Evaluation and Application for Certificate of Credit forms
  • A passing score of at least 70% on the Post-Activity Assessment is required in order to claim credit

You must be logged into your account to participate in this activity. Get started by clicking "Begin" and viewing the "CE Info," and then follow the prompts at the bottom of the screen. At the end of the activity, you will be able to view, save or print your certificate of participation. The Area of Practice you indicated in your profile corresponds with your certificate type. A complete listing of all of your activities can be found by selecting "My Account" and viewing "My Activities."

Method for Calculating CE Credit
CE credit is calculated based on the complexity of content.

Accreditation Statement
OptumHealth Education is 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 health care team.

Credit Designation Statements
Physicians
OptumHealth Education designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Physician Assistants
The American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) accepts credit from organizations accredited by the ACCME.

Nurses
The participant will be awarded up to 1.00 contact hour(s) of credit for attendance and completion of supplemental materials.

Nurse Practitioners
The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Program (AANPCP) accepts credit from organizations accredited by the ACCME and ANCC.

Pharmacists
This activity is approved for 1 contact hour(s) (0.1 CEU) in states that recognize ACPE.

Attending the full program will earn 1.0 contact hour(s). Unique Activity Number: 0860-0000-15-024-H01-P

AAPC-Certified Coders
This program meets AAPC guidelines for 1.0 CEU. Can be used for Core A, CANPC and CHONC with successful completion of post-test for continuing education units.

Attendance
A certificate of attendance will be provided to learners upon completion of activity requirements, enabling participants to register with licensing boards or associations that have not been pre-approved for credits. To apply for credit types not listed above, participants should use the procedure established by the specific organization with which they wish to earn credit.

Provided By
This activity is provided by OptumHealth Education.

Commercial Support
This activity is supported by UnitedHealth Group Global Services, Inc.

Hardware/Software Requirements
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Target Audience

This activity is designed to meet the educational needs of physicians, nurses, pharmacists, coders (AAPC) and other health care professionals (HCPs) who have an interest in the management of congestive heart failure.

Activity summary
Available credit: 
  • 1.00 AAPC - Coders
  • 1.00 ACPE - Pharmacists
  • 1.00 AMA - Physicians
  • 1.00 ANCC - Nurses
  • 1.00 Attendance - General Attendance
Activity opens: 
11/12/2015
Activity expires: 
10/31/2017
Rating: 
0

Available Credit

  • 1.00 AAPC - Coders
  • 1.00 ACPE - Pharmacists
  • 1.00 AMA - Physicians
  • 1.00 ANCC - Nurses
  • 1.00 Attendance - General Attendance
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