The Key to Their Hearts: The Indispensable Role of the Primary Care Clinician in the Management of Patients Post-MI

Faculty

Needs Statement

An estimated 610,000 new cases of MI and 325,000 recurrent MIs and 195,000 silent MIs will occur this year in the US; this translates to 1 ME every 34 seconds. The mortality associated with ACS is high; 18% and 33% of men and 23% and 43% of women will die within 1 and 5 years, respectively. The high morbidity and mortality rates associated with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) call for improved care for these patients. A collaborative approach to the management of patients with ACS is imperative to ensure appropriate length of therapy, intervention to reduce modifiable risk factors, and appropriate stopping and restarting therapy as needed for dental/surgical procedures. Thus, with the use of expert opinions and frequently asked questions from a series of live activities, this newsletter will highlight the importance of the primary care physician and cardiologist collaboration.

Target Audience

This activity is designed for primary care clinicians, registered nurses, and other healthcare professionals interested in the management of patients with ACS.

Objectives

1. Discuss strategies aimed at improving collaboration between primary care physicians and cardiologists in managing patients post-ACS.

Accreditation

CME
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education through the joint sponsorship of the University of Kentucky College of Medicine and ACCELMED. The University of Kentucky College of Medicine is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The University of Kentucky College of Medicine designates this enduring material for a maximum of 0.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

The University of Kentucky College of Medicine presents this activity for educational purposes only. Participants are expected to utilize their own expertise and judgment while engaged in the practice of medicine. The content of the presentations is provided solely by presenters who have been selected for presentations because of recognized expertise in their field.

Faculty Disclosure

Dr. Gurbel has served as a consultant to Boston Scientific, Medtronic, and ThromboScience; and has received research support from AstraZeneca, Bayer, Haemoscope and NIH and Schering-Plough Corporation/Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Dr. Toth has served on the speakers' bureau for Daiichi Sankyo, Inc.

None of the planners involved in this activity report any relevant financial relationships with commercial interests.

The authors wish to thank Janardhan Sampath, PhD, who contributed to the writing of the newsletter on behalf of ACCELMED.

Activity Sponsorship

This activity is jointly sponsored by the University of Kentucky and ACCELMED. Supported by an unrestricted educational grant from Lilly USA, LLC and Daiichi Sankyo, Inc.