Original Release Date: July 1, 2009
Expiration Date: July 1, 2012
10 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES FOR EACH TOPIC

TOPIC 1: Approach to the Patient with Hypertension - Upon completion of this session, the participant should be able to:

1. Appreciate that all antihypertensive medications do not equally reduce cardiovascular risk.
2. Apply the JNC-7 guidelines to clinical care of hypertensive patients.
3. Recognize compelling indications for selection of initial antihypertensive therapy.
4. Identify which drugs most effectively reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

TOPIC 2: Important Drug Interactions and Side Effects - Upon completion of this session, the participant should be able to:

1. Discuss the most common mechanisms for drug interactions.
2. Identify some of the most frequent culprit drugs.
3. Counsel patients regarding some of the most frequent side-effects seen with commonly used medications.

TOPIC 3: Thyroid Nodules - Upon completion of this session, the participant should be able to:

1. Describe the incidence of thyroid nodules in the primary care setting.
2. Discuss features from history and physical examination that increase the likelihood of malignancy.
3. Outline the best diagnostic approach to a thyroid nodule.
4. Review common cytologic findings from fine needle aspirate and their clinical significance.

TOPIC 4: Dementia in the Elderly - Upon completion of this session, the participant should be able to:

1. Describe the prevalence and significance of dementia in the elderly population.
2. List common causes of dementia in the elderly and the value of objectifying cognitive performance.
3. Identify atypical patterns and differential diagnosis of dementia syndromes.
4. Describe the risks and benefits of commonly used drugs to treat dementia.
5. Describe a reasonable medical evaluation of a newly identified patient.

TOPIC 5: Multiple Sclerosis - Upon completion of this session, the participant should be able to:

1. Recognize the typical clinical features of multiple sclerosis.
2. Organize an appropriate series of diagnostic investigations.
3. Describe the approach to abortive and prophylactic therapy of multiple sclerosis.
4. Classify common treatable medical complications of multiple sclerosis.

TOPIC 6: Outpatient Anticoagulation Issues - Upon completion of this session, the participant should be able to:

1. Manage outpatient warfarin using current guidelines.
2. Describe when and how to reverse the effects of warfarin.
3. Evaluate patients for hypercoagulable states and appreciate the implications.
4. Advise patients on the appropriate duration and intensity of anticoagulation in a variety of clinical scenarios.

TOPIC 7: Treatment of Hyperglycemia in Type 2 Diabetes - Upon completion of this session, the participant should be able to:

1. Understand the pathogenesis and natural history of hyperglycemia in T2DM.
2. Describe current pharmacological treatment options.
3. Develop individualized regimens to optimize glycemic control.