IMPACT–CDAD

IMPACT–CDAD Webcast On Demand

The IMPACT–CDAD Webcast On Demand is a discussion on C. difficile-associated disease led by six of the nation's top experts on this serious infection. All you need is a computer with a high speed Internet connection to view this continuing education activity. We suggest enhancing your educational experience by inviting a few of your colleagues to participate and then discussing your thoughts on the information presented. This program is certified for continuing education credits for physicians, pharmacists, and nurses.

Program Overview

The IMPACT–CDAD CME/CE Webcast On Demand presents the latest information related to C. difficile-associated disease, including the epidemiology and risk factors for CDAD, as well as current recommendations in the diagnosis and management of this serious infection. This program also discusses infection control strategies and antimicrobial stewardship tactics that may be used at your institution to minimize the threat for CDAD outbreaks. The Webcast On Demand is created from a simultaneous live webcast and live meeting held in Columbus, Ohio on March 27, 2008.

Special Features

• No fee to participate
• Conveniently accessed from any computer with a high-speed Internet connection
• Six faculty experts in infectious diseases and C. difficile-associated disease
• Expanded panel discussion that focuses on clinical strategies

Statement of Need

Clostridium difficile-associated disease (CDAD) can significantly increase morbidity and mortality while resulting in excessive healthcare costs due to increased length of stay in hospitals. In the US, the incidence and severity of CDAD have increased substantially over the past few years, possibly related to the spread of a hypervirulent strain of C. difficile that is now present in most states.

Education of all healthcare professionals can be invaluable in preventing or minimizing any potential CDAD outbreaks. More stringent infection control policies have been shown to be an important preventative measure. Recognizing patient risk factors can aid in early diagnosis while guidelines from the Infectious Diseases Society of America can serve as a basis for selecting appropriate treatment for initial and recurrent infections.

Topics Discussed

Target Audience

IMPACT–CDAD activities are designed to meet the educational needs of healthcare professionals who care for patients in hospital settings and long-term care facilities. Included are infectious diseases physicians, intensivists, hematology/oncology specialists, surgeons, hospital epidemiologists, clinical pharmacists, infectious diseases pharmacists and Pharmacy Managers, Nurse Managers and nurse specialties such as critical care, oncology, infection control, and geriatric.

Purpose Statement

The purpose of this activity is to equip healthcare professionals to work together as a team to prevent and control the spread of C. difficile and appropriately manage infections caused by this increasingly prevalent microorganism.

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of the program, participants should be better able to:

• Describe the changing epidemiology of CDAD in the hospital and community settings
• Recognize risk factors associated with the increased incidence of CDAD
• Identify infection control practices and antimicrobial stewardship tactics to prevent and control the spread of C. difficile
• Recommend patient management strategies for severe cases of CDAD

Faculty

Accreditation

Physicians
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint sponsorship of Medical Education Collaborative (MEC) and Vemco MedEd. MEC is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

MEC designates this education activity for a maximum of 2.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits^™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

For questions regarding the accreditation of this activity, please contact Medical Education Collaborative at (303) 420-3252 or inquire@meccme.org.

Pharmacists
Center for Independent Healthcare Education (the Center) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. The Center has assigned 2.75 contact hours (0.275 CEUs) of continuing pharmacy education credit to this activity.
This activity is based on the IMPACT-CDAD Live Webcast live activity with ACPE Universal Program Number: 473-999-08-001-L01-P. The ACPE Universal Program Number for this activity is 473-999-08-009-H01-P. Only those who did not claim credit for the live activity can claim credit for this activity.

For questions regarding the pharmacist accreditation of this activity, please contact Center for Independent Healthcare Education at info@jointsponsor.com.

Nurses ANCC
Medical Education Collaborative (MEC) is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.

This continuing nursing education activity for 2.75 contact hours is provided by MEC.

Medical Education Collaborative (MEC) is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number 129909 for 2.75 contact hours.

For questions regarding the accreditation of this activity, please contact Medical Education Collaborative at (303) 420-3252 or inquire@meccme.org.

Release Date: June 24, 2008
Expiration Date: June 24, 2009
Estimated Time to Complete Activity: 2.75 hours

Copyright Statement

Copyright © 2008 Vemco MedEd, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Permission for accreditation use granted to Center for Independent Healthcare Education (the Center).
Permission for accreditation use granted to Medical Education Collaborative (MEC).

Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

Medical Education Collaborative and Center for Independent Healthcare Education require faculty, planners, and others who are in a position to control the content of continuing education activities to disclose to the audience any real or apparent conflict of interest related to the activity. All identified conflicts of interest are reviewed to ensure fair balance, objectivity, and scientific rigor in all educational activities. The faculty is further required to disclose discussion of off-label uses in their presentations.

Disclosures

Faculty
Dale N. Gerding, MD, FACP, FIDSA serves on the advisory boards of ViroPharma, Genzyme, Optimer, Salix and Schering-Plough. He has received grants/research support from ViroPharma, Genzyme, Optimer, and GOJO. He has also served as a consultant and provided support related to patent licensing for ViroPharma.

L. Clifford McDonald, MD, FACP does not have any relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Carlene A. Muto, MD, MS does not have any relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Alla Paskovaty, PharmD does not have any relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Anne Pohlman, RN, MS has served as a consultant for Cardinal Health.

Ron E. Polk, PharmD, FIDSA has served as a consultant for Forest Laboratories, received grant/research support from ViroPharma and has served on the Speakers Bureau for Schering-Plough.

During this program, off-label uses of the following agents were discussed: metronidazole, tolevamer, ramoplanin, OPT-80, rifaximin, nitazoxinide, monoclonal antibody, C. difficile vaccine, non-toxigenic C. difficile strains, and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) for the prevention or treatment of C. difficile-associated disease.

Planning Committee Members
Employees of Center for Independent Healthcare Education, Medical Education Collaborative, and Vemco MedEd have disclosed that they have no relevant financial relationships with any commercial interests.

Fee

There is no fee associated with this educational program.

Instructions for Credit

To receive credit for your participation in this CME/CE activity, please complete the following steps:

1. Review the CE information for this activity including the target audience, learning objectives, and disclosures.
2. View the online Webcast On Demand.
3. Complete the Post-test, selecting the most appropriate response to each question.
4. Complete the Evaluation Form and Credit Application.
5. Fax the completed forms to (908) 704-2424 or mail to: Vemco MedEd, 245 US Highway 22, Suite 304, Bridgewater, NJ, 08807. Documentation of credit will be mailed within 6–8 weeks following receipt of materials.

Please click on the webcast icon at the bottom of this page to begin the educational activity. This educational activity consists of video, audio, and slide presentations. CE forms can be downloaded by clicking on the Accreditation tab within the activity.

Hardware/Software Requirements

Web Browser
This CME/CE webcast is accessible via Internet Explorer 5.0 or above or the most current version of Netscape. You may need to disable any "pop-up blocker" software because the Webcast On Demand will be broadcast in a separate window.

Connection Speed
A high speed connection (cable, DSL, or better) of at least 300 kbps is highly recommended.

Video/Audio Capabilities
Windows Media Player 9.0 or above, sound card, and speakers are required for audio and video. The latest version of Windows Media Player can be downloaded for free at Windowsmedia.com.

Meeting Materials
You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader version 4 or above installed on your computer to view PDF files. If you do not have Acrobat Reader, you can download it for free at Adobe.com.

System Check
If you are still unsure if your system is ready, please e-mail any questions or concerns to info@IMPACTCDAD.com.

Disclaimer

The opinions expressed in this educational activity are those of the faculty and do not reflect the views of Center for Independent Healthcare Education, Medical Education Collaborative, and Vemco MedEd. This educational activity may discuss off-label and/or investigational uses and dosages for therapeutic products/procedures that have not been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Center for Independent Healthcare Education, Medical Education Collaborative, and Vemco MedEd do not recommend the use of any product/procedure outside of the labeled indications. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product/procedure discussed. All readers and continuing education participants should verify all information and data before treating patients or employing any therapies described in this continuing education activity. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product/procedures for approved indication, contraindications, and warnings.

Webcast On Demand

Jointly sponsored by Center for Independent Healthcare Education, Medical Education Collaborative, and Vemco MedEd

Supported by an educational grant from Schering-Plough Corporation