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, 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
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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.

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• 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

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CE credit is calculated based on the complexity of content.

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

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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.

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Provided By
This activity is provided by OptumHealth Education.

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

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