FERNE On-Line CME Program
“Optimal Blood Pressure
Management in Emergency
Department Patients With
Hypertensive Emergencies and
Stroke Syndromes”
Accreditation
Continuing Medical Education Credit Information
Purpose of Activity
Hypertensive emergency patients are commonly treated in the
Emergency Department. This emergent situation is frequently
manifested as a co-morbid disease in acute stroke, altered
mental status, coma, and intracerebral hemorrhage. This
program will investigate the rationale for blood pressure
management and treatment options available for ED patients
who present in a hypertensive emergency and related stroke
syndromes.
This session will provide an overview to the emergency
physician of the current systems for hypertensive care, the way
in which hypertensive patients should be clinically evaluated,
and what are optimal treatment options based on the latest
research, published guidelines, and available diagnostic and
treatment modalities.
Needs Assessment
The planning process for this program was determined through
four mechanisms:
1. Meeting feedback from participants via written evaluations
at previous EMA Emergency and Acute Care Meetings
2. Feedback from past FERNE meeting participants via a
written survey form
3. FERNE Executive and Advisory Boards
4. FERNE special meetings with faculty and residents in
Emergency Medicine
Through these input vehicles, it has been determined that
learning more about the optimal management of patients with
neurological emergencies includes the need to understand how
to optimally treat blood pressure in the setting of possible
increased ICP and diminished CPP when hypertensive
emergencies exist.
Target Audience
This educational activity has been developed for emergency
physicians.
Method of Participation
This online educational program allows the learner three options
for reviewing the content of this CME program, including:
View the video lectures: The archived lectures
includes the speaker’s PowerPoint slide set, video,
and audio. You may listen and view the lecture and
simultaneously review the slides.
Listen to the lectures in MP3 format: The lecture
recording is available for listening in MP3 format.
The MP3 files are available for online listening or
may be downloaded for remote listening. The MP3
files may also be played while simultaneously
viewing the slides.
Print and Read the PowerPoint Slides, Overview,
and Key Clinical Questions: The PowerPoint slide
sets, Overview, and Key Clinical Questions are
available for online viewing which may be
downloaded and printed for remote reading.
All of these options will require up to two hours to complete.
Completion of the CME assessment questions, evaluation, and
CME request form are estimated to take approximately 15
minutes.
To complete this educational activity as designed, the participant
should do the following: read the learning objectives (below);
choose one or more of the three venues and review the content;
and complete the CME assessment questions, an Evaluation
Form, and a CME Request Form.
There is no fee for this program.
The participant must answer the CME assessment questions
with 75% accuracy, complete an evaluation form and a CME
request form all of which should either be submitted
electronically through the FERNE website at www.ferne.org or
be faxed back to the FERNE office to receive a CME certificate.
Release date: November 1, 2007
Expiration date: October 31, 2008
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this program, the participant should be able
to:

Determine the definition of hypertensive emergencies,
and discuss their epidemiology and pathophysiology in
ED patients with stroke syndromes.

Identify what therapies are available for the treatment of
ED patients with hypertensive emergencies and stroke
syndromes.

Discuss the clinically relevant endpoints for the evaluation
and management of ED patients with hypertensive
emergencies.

Understand what guidelines and recommendations assist
emergency care providers in optimally treating ED
patients with hypertensive emergencies and stroke
syndromes.
Faculty Contributors
Edward P. Sloan, MD, MPH, FACEP
Moderator, Lecturer
Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine
University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, IL.
William B. Felegi, DO, FACEP
Lecturer, Panelist
Robert A. Giles, MD, FACEP
Lecturer, Panelist
William Dalsey, MD, FACEP
Panelist
Janet McGeehan, RN
Panelist
Richard Shih, MD, FACEP
Panelist
Brian Walsh, MD, FACEP
Panelist
Michael Gerardi, MD, FACEP
Contributor
Production Staff
FERNE administrative and technology staff.
Contributor Disclosures
In accordance with ACCME Standards and UIC policy,
contributors must disclose to the program audience the
existence of significant financial interests in or relationships with
manufacturers of commercial products that might have a direct
interest in the subject matter, as well as relationships with the
commercial supporter of this CME activity. These contributors do
not consider that such relationships will influence their
contributions. Disclosure information provided by the
contributors is as follows:
There are no disclosures to announce.
Acknowledgment of Commercial Support
This educational activity is supported by an unrestricted
educational grant from The Medicines Company.
Accreditation Statement
” Optimal Blood Pressure Management in Emergency
Department Patients With Hypertensive Emergencies and
Stroke Syndromes” has been planned and implemented in
accordance with the Essentials Areas and policies of the
Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education
(ACCME) through the joint sponsorship of the University of
Illinois College of Medicine and FERNE.
The University of Illinois College of Medicine is accredited by the
ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
The University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) College of Medicine
designates this education activity for a maximum of 2.0 AMA
PRA Category 1 credit(s)TM. Physicians should claim only those
credits commensurate with the extent of their participation in the
activity.
Publisher's Notice
FERNE is pleased to make this CME activity available as a
benefit to its constituency. Although the cost of creating this
program has been underwritten by an educational grant from a
commercial entity, FERNE and the presenters of this information
had sole control of the content. Federal regulations, FERNE,
UIC and ACCME policies prohibit commercial underwriters from
directing or otherwise controlling the content of CME activities
FERNE provides. Every effort has been made to ensure that the
information presented is evidence based, fair, objective, and
scientifically rigorous. This information is provided for the sole
purpose of continuing medical education. Readers are advised
to use their reasoned best judgment as to whether this
information should result in a change in their patient care
practices, and to note that FERNE does not endorse the use of
any particular therapeutic agent or approach to treatment unless
otherwise recommended in an ACEP Clinical Policy.
FERNE makes every effort to ensure that contributors to
FERNE-sponsored programs are knowledgeable authorities in
their fields. Participants are, nevertheless, advised that the
statements and opinions expressed in this program are provided
as guidelines and should not be construed as FERNE policy.
The material contained herein is not intended to establish policy,
procedure, or a standard of care. The views expressed in this
educational activity are those of the contributors and not
necessarily the opinion or recommendations of FERNE and The
Medicines Company. FERNE and The Medicines Company
disclaim any liability or responsibility for the consequences of
any actions taken in reliance on those statements or opinions.
Please send correspondence to ferne@ferne.org.
Please be sure to review the presentations before you take
this test and answer the evaluation questions. By
completing this test and receiving your CME certificate, you
are attesting that you have completed the entire program as
described in "Method of Participation" on the CME page.
This educational symposia is supported by an unrestricted educational grant
from The Medicines Company
Copyright © FERNE 2007