Stroke can be devastating and lead to significant disability and/or death. Diagnosing and treating stroke symptoms as well as factors associated with transient ischemic attacks—often a stroke warning sign—are of paramount importance. The faculty in this talk will discuss the crucial role of the primary care team in post-stroke care and how you can ensure the best recovery for your patients who have suffered from stroke.

This talk on deep vein thrombosis (DVT) will review common clinical presentations, diagnostic workup, indications for imaging, and therapeutic options. The consequences of DVT, such as pulmonary embolism and stroke (in patients with patent foramen ovale), can be dire, and the faculty will provide strategies to reduce morbidity and mortality. You will dive into a detailed lesson on the medical therapy for DVT, which includes anticoagulation strategies using warfarin or the novel factor Xa inhibitors. After this session, you will know when to refer for more advanced invasive therapies and have insight into management of special populations. Please note that any data, indications, and guidelines presented in this activity are current as of the recording/release on February 9th, 2020, and they are subject to change as new information is published.

In this session, the speaker will discuss some challenging diagnostic cases that primary care practitioners may face in their practice. These cases will feature interpretation of laboratory and imaging studies as well as encounters with rare diseases and conditions. You will learn which aspects of the history and physical exam are most useful to establish certain diagnoses, increase your awareness of certain uncommon but “can’t miss” diagnoses, and become familiar with clinical decision aids that improve diagnostic accuracy for certain common diagnoses. Please note that any data, indications, and guidelines presented in this activity are current as of the recording/release on February 8th, 2020, and they are subject to change as new information is published.

This talk will review the new ACC-AHA Hypertension guidelines and emphasize what’s old, what’s new, and what has changed.

In the last 3 decades, our improved knowledge of heart failure etiology has been the catalyst for major advances in its medical management. This session will help you to understand the modern pharmacologic treatment of patients with this syndrome and offer a peek into advances that can be expected in the coming years. Please note that any data, indications, and guidelines presented in this activity are current as of the recording/release on 2/8/2020, and they are subject to change as new information is published.

In this session, you will receive the most important cardiology updates from 2018-2019, including trial evidence for dietary supplements in the prevention of cardiovascular disease and new information about the blood cholesterol guidelines. The session will also provide advice on how to differentiate between opportunistic and systematic screening for atrial fibrillation as well as identify ways to conduct this screening in practice. Please note that any data, indications, and guidelines presented in this activity are current as of the recording/release on February 8th 2020 and they are subject to change as new information is published.

Heart failure (HF) affects 5.7 million men and women in the United States, with 915,000 new cases occurring annually and a resultant 1,000,000 hospitalizations, which translates into an annual estimated cost of over $30 billion dollars. Mortality with this condition is high, approximately 50% at five years. Implementation of the advances in management of heart failure have the potential to improve patients' quality of life, reduce the need for hospitalizations, reduce total medical costs, and prolong survival. This lecture will review the current evidence-based, guideline recommended diagnosis and management of heart failure. The essential roles of evidence-based heart failure medications, device therapy, patient education, and disease management will be discussed.

The epidemiology of acute coronary syndromes has changed dramatically in the past few decades, with lower overall incidence of myocardial infarction (MI) -- particularly ST elevation MI -- and improved survival after an incident MI. The diagnosis and classification of MI is challenging, particularly in the era of sensitive troponin assays. Clinicians must be aware of the frequent occurrence and causes of troponin elevations from conditions other than MI. Following diagnosis, risk stratification for patients with non-ST elevation ACS is critical to making prudent decisions and selecting among the multitude of different options for invasive and medical therapies. When considering potent antiplatelet and antithrombotic therapies, it is of paramount importance to also consider bleeding risk. Primary care clinicians play a critical role in determining the optimal duration of dual antiplatelet therapy, ensuring appropriate use and adherence to evidence-based medical therapies, and addressing lifestyle factors that can help prevent or modify the course after an ACS event.

This program is designed to address some of the practical clinical issues from the recent literature. You will learn about controversies and caveats that will help you interpret recent updates. A few case examples of routine practice encounters will illustrate how to apply this new information in daily practice. Please note that any data, indications, and guidelines presented in this activity are current as of the recording/release on February 9, 2020, and they are subject to change as new information is published.

Tremendous strides have been made in the management of cerebrovascular disorders. This presentation will provide the most recent updates in the diagnosis and management of strokes and transient ischemic attacks (TIAs). Contemporary clinical trials have changed the treatment of ischemic strokes and TIAs. This session will explain how to identify the mechanism for stroke and TIA and select prevention strategies accordingly. In addition to discussing individualized management, the faculty will touch on several ongoing trials that aim to clarify alternative mechanisms for stroke and pilot new therapeutic approaches. Please note that any data, indications, and guidelines presented in this activity are current as of the recording/release on February 7th 2020 and they are subject to change as new information is published.

Get your questions answered by expert faculty in Cardiology. You ask: we listen. You will learn practical solutions to common clinical challenges and tips to apply the latest knowledge in practice.

Get your questions answered by expert faculty in Cardiology. You ask: we listen. You will learn practical solutions to common clinical challenges and tips to apply the latest knowledge in practice.