Approximately every 34 seconds, an American has a coronary event. One person dies from this event every minute. High quality care requires rapid identification and treatment to ensure appropriate guideline management for the right patient at the right time. Despite these goals and widespread dissemination of recent guidelines and updates, adherence to best practices is far from universal among clinicians.

The Heart Course provides an opportunity for practitioners to discuss emerging data, new guidelines, and optimal treatment strategies for the management of cardiac and vascular emergencies. In addition, they will learn to apply cutting edge, state-of-the-art cardiovascular diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic modalities; and improve their current practice.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of this activity, participants will be able to initiate safe and effective management of a wide variety of patients who present with cardiovascular emergencies in the emergency department including:

• Review emerging heart failure management strategies including diagnosis, classification, risk-stratification, prognosis, optimization of volume status, hyponatremia management, and new therapeutic options
• Review the new guidelines and evidence based best practice strategies for the early identification, treatment and use of anti-platelet/anticoagulant therapies for patients with acute coronary syndrome (STEMI, and UA/ NSTEMI)
• Evaluate and manage high-risk, life threatening arrhythmias
• Understand and apply optimal management strategies for the treatment of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation
• Describe the mechanisms of action and optimal evidence based use of new oral anticoagulants (NOAC) therapy

Desired Educational Outcomes:

At the conclusion of this activity, participants will demonstrate effective management of cardiovascular emergencies in the acute setting including:

• Implementation of state-of-the-art cardio-vascular resuscitation strategies
• Demonstrate immediate lifesaving actions for high-risk, high-threat electrocardiography (ECG) findings and threatening arrhythmias
• Evaluate and treat patients with complex dysrhythmias
• Apply latest evidence for risk-stratification and management of the chest pain and acute coronary syndromes
• Review the evidence based strategies for the management of transient ischemic attack (TIA), stroke, and cerebral hemorrhage
• Discuss the emerging data on current and new oral anticoagulants (NOAC) therapy used in the management of patients with cardiovascular disease
• Identify optimal Emergency Department antiplatelet and anticoagulant management strategies for patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), atrial fibrillation (AF), venous thromboembolism (VTE) and stroke.
• Implement strategies for effective emergency department management of the acute heart failure patient, including diagnosis, classification, risk-stratification, prognosis, optimization of volume status, hyponatremia management, organ protection, and potential impact on both short and long-term outcomes
• Review the indications, contraindications, and applications of noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) in the emergency department
• Review the new guidelines and emerging management strategies for aortic dissection
• Discuss the benefits, limitations, and utilization of novel anticoagulants for stroke prevention in AF

The Heart Course is intended for physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and advanced practice professionals that provide care to patients with acute cardiovascular problems.

For more information, please click here.

For more information about fees, please click here.

To register, please click here or call 855-276-6855.

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 Medical College of Wisconsin and MedEd Consulting. The Medical College of Wisconsin is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

AMA Credit Designation Statement

The Medical College of Wisconsin designates this live activity up to 19.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

The Medical College of Wisconsin designates this live activity for a maximum of 19.50 hours of participation for continuing education for allied health professionals.

ACEP, ENA, ANCC and AANP Accreditation:

Applications have been submitted and approval is pending.