Venous thromboembolism (VTE; collectively, deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE)) epidemiology continues to change. Factors such as life expectancy increasing, continued growth of rates of cancer, the obesity epidemic in the US, and increasingly successful therapies for chronic diseases associated with VTE risk, are contributing to increased rates of VTE seen by healthcare providers in the US. The annual incidence in the general population is 1-2 per 1000, and is much higher in some well-characterized subgroups. Financial pressure is being applied to hospitals by payors and regulatory agencies that are increasingly focused on VTE prevention and treatment as a marker of healthcare quality. This financial pressure is being applied to hospitals to limit inpatient care of DVT. Additionally, multiple new therapeutic approaches to thrombosis are becoming more widely available, leading to confusion among providers about treatment options. The coincidence of these issues creates an intense and immediate need for better education of healthcare providers of nearly every medical discipline about the scope, prevalence, and importance of VTE.

This educational activity is presented using the “Flipped Classroom” educational model.

On-Demand Content
VTE: A Growing Problem in a Healthcare Environment Increasingly Focused on Out-of-Hospital Management and Efficiency of Care. This is the didactic component of this series and is delivered as a HD video. The content covered in this section will include an overview of the NOACs, how to bridge from warfarin to a NOAC and factors to consider in the ongoing management of the patient on NOAC therapy.  The healthcare practitioner/learner is encouraged to complete the didactic portion prior to participation in the interactive webinar. Accredited for 1.0 Hour of CME/CE credit.

Webinar
Learners are also invited to participate in an interactive group discussion using the GoToMeeting platform. The discussion includes three representative cases for discussion (uncomplicated DVT, complicated DVT, PE) and focuses on the management issues and challenges related to each case. Accredited for 0.5 Hours of CME/CE credit.

Following participation in both the on-demand and the interactive webinar sessions, the participants will be able to:

• Cite the growing incidence of VTE in the US and epidemiologic reasons driving the increasing VTE incidence rates

• Be able to effectively differentiate uncomplicated from complicated DVT

• Utilize the factors to consider in the effective disposition of patients with DVT

• Employ the important elements to consider in initial treatment and disposition of patients with PE

• Know the VTE rates as an accepted measure of healthcare quality

• Incorporate the key factors to consider in determining the optimal length of therapy for VTE and the need for extended therapy
  

Emergency Medicine physicians and other emergency department based providers as well as Hospitalists. 

There is no fee to access the activity.

Click here to access the activity.

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 American Board of Quality Assurance and Utilization Review Physicians (ABQAURP) and the Hospital Quality Foundation. ABQAURP is accredited by the ACCME to provide medical education for physicians.

The American Board of Quality Assurance and Utilization Review Physicians, Inc. designates this internet enduring activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits.TM Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

The American Board of Quality Assurance and Utilization Review Physicians, Inc. (ABQAURP) is an approved provider with the Florida Board of Nursing to provide continuing education for nurses. ABQAURP designates this activity for 1.0 Nursing Contact Hours through the Florida Board of Nursing, Provider # 50–94.