Full Course Description

Respiratory Pharmacology: Pharmacokinetics, Indications for Use and Patient Monitoring

Have you ever felt a lack of confidence when prescribing pulmonary medications? You are not alone… During this Summit session, Dr. Paul Langlois, APN, Ph.D., CCRN, CCNS, will take you through laboratory data, testing results and physical assessment findings to determine the appropriate respiratory diagnosis. From there, you will take away the very latest updates to guide prescriptive decisions for the most common respiratory conditions you see in practice – asthma, COPD, COVID-19, TB, pulmonary hypertension, & pneumonia. This jam-packed presentation is sure to leave you with new insights and evidence guidelines to support patients optimally.

Program Information

Objectives

Determine the best medications to use during acute asthma attack.
Manage the current recommended medications for the COVID-19 patient both out- and in-patient.
Formulate a medication regimen for a tuberculosis patient, both newly diagnosed and with drug-resistant tuberculosis.
Devise the treatment protocol for a patient with pulmonary hypertension.
Plan for optimal antibiotic selection for the patient with bacterial pneumonia.

Outline

Asthma – Not Just Bronchodilators Anymore

How is asthma diagnosed?
Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) medication options
Role of corticosteroids in asthma treatment
Short acting beta agonists (SABA), long-acting beta agonists (LABA) - the difference and monitoring parameters
Muscarinic antagonists, leukotriene modifiers and phosphodiesterase inhibitors - must know indications and contraindications
Monoclonal antibodies for asthma relief

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) – Long Term Pharmacologic Therapies

COPD causes, symptoms and diagnostic tests
Non-pharmacologic treatments
SABA and LABA - when and how much
Inhaled corticosteroids alone or in combination with bronchodilators
Vaccines are a must – which ones and at what age to administer

SARS-CoV2, COVID-19

Laboratory parameters for SARS-CoV2
How effective are all those COVID-19 vaccines
Which antiviral medications are FDA approved and which are still in clinical trials?
Dexamethasone is effective - but only in certain patient populations

Tuberculosis (TB): Still Prevalent and Highly Contagious

What is Mycobacterium tuberculosis and how is it detected?
First line medications for drug susceptible TB (doses, how often & how long to take)
Multi-drug resistant TB treatments

Pulmonary Hypertension

Diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension
12-lead ECG results in a patient with pulmonary hypertension
Select between calcium channel blockers, phosphodiesterase inhibitors, endothelin receptor antagonizes and prostacyclin agonists

Pneumonia

Community acquired treatment options
Antibiotic options based on patient history
Hospital acquired pharmacology
How to treat methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus

Target Audience

Nurses
Nurse Practitioners
Pharmacists
Physicians
Physician Assistants
Respiratory Therapists

Copyright : 05/19/2022

Prescribing for Pain Management: Best Practices for Opioid and Non-Opioid Medications

We are in the midst of an opioid crisis. Treating chronic pain patients with opioid medications has become more complicated than ever before. The CDC’s published opioid guidelines have caused confusion regarding appropriate pain medication management.

View Debra Dermady-Ray, RN-BC, MS, ANP-BC, to learn the very latest to safely prescribe pain medications – opioid and nonopioid - to treat chronic pain conditions, while following the CDC guidelines. Debra will help you to identify substance abuse red flags and interpret the Urine Drug Screen results to better prescribe to your patients.

Program Information

Objectives

Analyze the steps of pain pharmacokinetics to select the best medication options.
Appraise a patient for at-risk substance use disorder signs.
Determine current opioid and adjunctive medications for the treatment of chronic pain.
Demonstrate understanding of the evolving CDC dosing guidelines.
Evaluate idiosyncrasies of Urine Drug Screen (UDS) results.

Outline

Pharmacokinetics to Guide Medication Decisions

Absorption
Volume distribution
Metabolism
Excretion/Elimination
Aging considerations

Principles of Analgesia

Individual differences
Assessment of pain relief

Medications for Pain Management

Non-opioid (adjunctive) medication management: NSAIDs, topical, SNRI’s, TCAs
Side effects, adverse drug reactions & allergic reactions
Dosing schedules
Routes of administration
Drug interactions
Opioid rotation
Opioids medications
Opioid safety
CDC guidelines

Substance Use Disorder

Addiction
Physical dependence
Tolerance
Withdrawal
Psuedoaddiction

Standard of Care for Scheduled Pain Medications

Red flag (drug seeking)
Urine Drug Screen results
Pain agreements
The 10 steps to universal precautions in pain medicine

Target Audience

Nurses
Nurse Practitioners
Pharmacists
Physicians
Physician Assistants

Copyright : 05/19/2022

Black Box Warnings: Prescribing Potentially Dangerous Medications Safely

Who among us does not prescribe (or have patients taking) antidepressants, diabetic medications or fluoroquinolones? Many commonly prescribed medications contain safety warnings from the FDA, called “Black Box Warnings.” It is easy to forget the warnings on relatively common drugs, and even easier to forget the warnings for less commonly used medications. This presentation will be interactive and fun while Bob McMullen, EdD, PA-C reviews the dangers of many medications, to ensure you are safely prescribing for patients.

Program Information

Objectives

Distinguish the black box warnings for common medications.
Analyze complications listed as Black Box Warnings, such as QT prolongation, increased suicidality, increased heart disease...and more!
Evaluate the dangers of less commonly prescribed medications.
Determine opportunities to improve prescriptive safety within your own practice.

Outline

Dangerous Medication Considerations for the Heart

NSAIDs
Promotility drugs
Combination oral contraceptives
Thiazolidinediones
Beta blockers

Dangerous Medication Considerations for Pediatric Patients

Antibiotics (doxycycline, tigecycline)
Opioids
Birth control
Acne meds
RAAS drugs
Misoprostol

Dangerous Medication Considerations for Breathing

Opioids
Methadone
Tramadol
Inhaled insulin
Nitroprusside
LABAs

Dangerous Medication Considerations for Blood Gasses

Metformin
Benzocaine-containing sprays or gels

Dangerous Medication Considerations for Bullae, Blisters, and Biopsies

Antiepileptic drugs
Topical calcineurin inhibitors
Psoralen
Antiemetics

Dangerous Medication Considerations for Bowels

IBS drugs
NSAIDs
APAP

Dangerous Medication Considerations for Bleeding

Platelet inhibitors
Thrombin inhibitors
Factor Xa inhibitors
Anticoagulant, Vitamin K Antagonist

Dangerous Medication Considerations for the Body

Fluoroquinolones
Botulinum toxins

Dangerous Medication Considerations for the Brain

Antidepressants
Atypical antipsychotics
Amphetamine, dextroamphetamine, lisdexamfetamine
Metoclopramide

Target Audience

Nurses
Nurse Practitioners
Pharmacists
Physicians
Physician Assistants

Copyright : 05/19/2022

Drug Prescribing and Deprescribing in Older Adults

Older patients often have numerous co-morbidities for which they are prescribed multiple medications, thereby increasing the risk of adverse drug events (ADEs). This risk is compounded by age-related changes in physiology and body composition, which influences drug response. Additionally, evidence suggests that inappropriate prescribing (IP) is highly prevalent in older people and is associated with an increased risk of ADEs, increased morbidity, mortality and healthcare utilization. Learn the drugs not to use and how safely deprescribe them.

Program Information

Objectives

Plan to minimize adverse drug events and drug-drug interactions for your elderly patients.
Evaluate the effects of aging on pharmacokinetics.
Apply the Beers criteria or STOPP/START to geriatric patient case reviews.
Analyze prescribing and deprescribing strategies for safety and outcome achievement.

Outline

Drug Utilization in the Elderly

The Pathophysiology of Aging

Generalities
Aging and Pharmacokinetics
- ADME

Aging and Pharmacodynamics

Consequence of Overprescribing

Adverse Drug Events
Common Drug-Disease Rxn’s

Principles of Prescribing

BEERS
STOPP/START

Principles of Deprescribing

The Top 10 Meds to Avoid In Geriatrics

Target Audience

Nurses
Nurse Practitioners
Pharmacists
Physicians
Physician Assistants

Copyright : 05/20/2022

Prescribing Heart Failure Medications: The Latest Updates for Life-Saving Clinical Decisions

Heart Failure is a complex clinical syndrome. The heart failure diagnosis alone can scare even the most adept and proficient providers.  It is not uncommon to feel as though we don’t want to change the medications for fear of causing harm.

Years of research and collaboration amongst the most respected experts in the heart failure field have proven that neurohormonal dysregulation is what causes the decline of patients with heart failure. When it comes to the medicinal management of heart failure, utilizing guideline directed medical therapy appropriately is misunderstood. It is not merely a pump problem but rather a brain and pump problem. The indications, patient education, up-titration, vital sign parameters, and adjuvant therapies are very specific to the pathology of the failing heart.

Program Information

Objectives

Analyze neurohormonal dysregulation as the primary trigger for worsening heart failure.
Differentiate the indications for GDMT in heart failure vs. other cardiovascular comorbidities. 
Determine how to concomitantly use available resources to optimize heart failure management.
Plan how to prescribe and up-titrate heart failure medications based on clinical criteria.
Appraise the effectiveness of prescribed therapies.

Outline

Neurohormonal Dysregulation

What is really causing the failure
RAAS 
Shutting it down

Guideline Directed Medical Therapy (GDMT)

The VIM’s:  Beta adrenergic blockers
The VIM’s:  ACEi/ ARB’s
The VIM’s:  Where’s ALDO?
The VIM’s:  The new player:  ARNI
The VIM’s: SGLT2 inhibition

What do they each do?

Critical importance of appropriate integration
Tips and tricks for patient tolerance
Monitoring

The VIM’s:  Stay in the Loop with Diuretics

Do HF patients ALWAYs need diuretics?
Subclasses of diuretics to consider
Thiazides and thiazide-like diuretics
Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors
Potassium-sparing diuretics
Osmotic diuretics

Non-Pharmacologic Interventions for Heart Failure Management

Electrophysiology involvement
- ICD’s
- Pacemakers
- BiV-ICD
PA pressure system
- Using monitoring to up-titrate GDMT
Social media as patient support
Support groups for patients with heart failure

Treatment Options 

Referral to HF specialist
Treating the cause
LVAD
Cardiac transplantation

Target Audience

Nurses
Nurse Practitioners
Pharmacists
Physicians
Physician Assistants

Copyright : 05/20/2022

Updates for Treating Depression: Link the Mechanism of Action to the Clinical Target

You see it in your practice setting, too. Depressive disorders are affecting patients, often in very significant ways. With almost 60% of mental health care delivery taking place in the primary care setting and most antidepressant prescriptions being written by providers who are not mental health providers, it is essential you are up-to-date to optimally recognize and manage depression.

JeanAnne Johnson Talbert, DHA, APRN-BC, FNP, PMHNP, an expert in the pharmacological treatment of mental illnesses will examine strategies to combat treatment resistant depression, share how you can link the mechanism of action to the clinical target for patient outcomes and highlight new medication options available.

Program Information

Objectives

Analyze the neurochemical basis of unipolar depression.
Determine the mechanism of action, indications, and adverse effects of therapeutic agents used to treat unipolar depression.
Plan for treatment of unipolar depression by linking the mechanisms of action to the clinical targets to optimize response.
Choose prescriptive options for treatment resistant depression, including augmentation and switching antidepressants.
Differentiate between novel and evolving antidepressant agents.

Outline

Diagnostic Criteria

Unipolar depression
Differentiating from bipolar depression

Neurochemical Changes that Occur in Depression

Selection of antidepressants based upon how they work in the brain
Updates on the different classes of antidepressants: SSRIs, SNRIs, TCA, MAOI, others

Prescribing Best Practices

Tips on prescribing, dosing, titrating, and discontinuing
How to best augment or make a change to the antidepressant treatment plan
Next steps when the current medication is not providing remission

New Agents for the Treatment of Unipolar Depression

Mechanism of action
How they are used
Potential adverse effects

Target Audience

Nurses
Nurse Practitioners
Pharmacists
Physicians
Physician Assistants

Copyright : 05/20/2022

Cannabis Pharmacology Updates: From a Clinical Cannabis Pharmacist

The cannabis plant has been used for thousands of years as a medicinal agent to treat pain, anxiety, and seizures. The widespread legalization of medical and adult-use cannabis programs at the state level have highlighted the need for medical professionals to be educated on the properties of cannabis and how they can be incorporated into responsible patient care programs. This educational program provides a comprehensive look at the clinical aspects of cannabis as medicine, from a pharmacology perspective.

Program Information

Objectives

Determine the pharmacokinetic properties of cannabinoids.
Differentiate cannabis dosage between forms.
Develop a cannabis dosing protocol.
Evaluate patients for appropriateness of cannabis therapy based on potential contraindications, precautions, and drug/drug interactions.

Outline

Pharmacokinetics of phytocannabinoids
Cannabis dosing
Cannabis dosage forms
Adverse effects, interactions, & contraindications
Cannabis pharmacogenomics
Cannabis addiction, withdrawal, and cannabis use disorder

Target Audience

Nurses
Nurse Practitioners
Pharmacists
Physicians
Physician Assistants

Copyright : 05/19/2022

Healthcare, Remixed

Through an engaging mix of song, humor, and creative storytelling, Dr. Damania examines the challenges of delivering compassionate care in our challenged healthcare system, while proposing collaborative ways to revitalize it. He explores how we might work individually and collectively to ensure that the future of medicine is a bright one.

Program Information

Objectives

Analyze the root causes that are challenging care delivery across healthcare systems.
Evaluate the causes, signs, and symptoms of provider burnout.
Determine new methods of patient communication leveraging social media.
Devise new models of healthcare team structure, delivery, and financing.

Outline

Root Causes that Challenge Care Delivery Across Healthcare Systems

Fee-for-service model incentivizes procedures and episodic care, not prevention
Culture of medicine is not team-based
Medical system does not always meet patients where they are

Causes, Signs & Symptoms of Provider Burnout

Multiple causes of burnout - medical culture, administrative burden & high work load
Burnout can manifest in atypical patterns
Recognizing burnout and acting to alleviate it is key to sustainable, rewarding careers in healthcare

New Methods of Patient Communication - Leveraging Social Media

Social media is now a crucial component to reach and educate both patients and providers
Learn about the use of video communications in public health efforts, leveraging Facebook and YouTube

New Models of Healthcare: Team Structure, Delivery & Financing

Focus on primary care and prevention
Leverage a membership model/capitated payment system
Team-based structures where providers practice at the top of their license, with support from the team

Target Audience

Nurses
Nurse Practitioners
Physicians
Physicians Assistants

Copyright : 03/24/2022

Pharmacology Update for Common Neurological Disorders

Neurological disorders represent one of the most prominent causes of morbidity and mortality that adversely affect the lifestyle of patients and a major percentage of these diseases result in disability. More conservative prescribing has the potential to reduce adverse drug events and patient harm and cost; however, no method exists defining the extent to which individual clinicians prescribe conservatively. One potential domain is prescribing a more limited number of drugs. Personal formularies—defined as the number and mix of unique, newly initiated drugs prescribed by a physician—may enable comparisons among clinicians, practices, and institutions.

Program Information

Objectives

Plan for use of the current best medications in the care of neuroscience patients.
Develop a specialty list for your practice, to become more familiar with commonly used medications in neuroscience patients.
Determine half-life, available routes and refill requirements of these commonly used medications
Evaluate the current patient medications regimens and develop strategies on when to refer a patient to a specialist.

Outline

Headaches/migraines
Multiple sclerosis
Peripheral neuropathy
Epilepsy and seizure disorders
Dementia
Parkinson’s disease
Chiari malformation
Dystonia
Huntington’s disease
Hyperexplexia
Muscular dystrophy
Myasthenia gravis
Myopathy
Primary orthostatic tremor
Restless leg syndrome

Target Audience

Nurses
Nurse Practitioners
Physicians
Physicians Assistants

Advancing Antibiotic Selection for Common Outpatient Infections

New research, clinical practice guidelines, and bacterial resistance continues to alter best practice for use of antibiotics. This session will emphasize results from recent research publications that demonstrate opportunities for enhanced antibiotic use to optimize patient outcomes. Dr. Wombwell, PharmD and Board Certified Infectious Disease Pharmacist, will draw attention to clinical situations that antibiotics are overprescribed, unnecessarily used, inappropriately dosed and underutilized in the treatment of infections.

Program Information

Objectives

Evaluate beta-lactam reaction histories to makes evidence-based decisions on the need to avoid beta-lactam therapies.
Develop risk factor–based empiric antibiotic regimens for patients with suspected community-acquired pneumonia.
Conclude which clinical scenarios require MRSA coverage for skin infections.
Formulate effective evidence-based therapies for Clostridioides difficile infections.
Choose cost-effective antibiotic therapies that minimize risk for adverse effects.

Outline

Penicillin Allergy

Side effect vs. allergy
Reassessing allergy statistics
Cephalosporin cross-sensitivity
Allergy history and antibiotic indication-based recommendations

Community Acquired Pneumonia

Assess 2019 ATS/IDSA guidelines
Review EPIC study
Streptococcus pneumonia resistance
Evaluate and contrast oral therapies for CAP

Skin Infections

Assessing Streptococcus vs. Staphylococcus
When is MRSA therapy necessary?
Comparison of oral MRSA therapies
NSAID adjunct

C. difficile Infections

Vancomycin vs. Fidaxomicin
Managing recurrence
Probiotic assessment

Target Audience

Nurses
Nurse Practitioners
Physicians
Physicians Assistants

Diabetes Medications: The Latest Treatments & Guidelines

Advancements in research and treatment for diabetes mellitus is exciting. With 9 classes of diabetes medications now available, there are a lot of options, but it can also be confusing to choose which medications are best to treat your patient with diabetes. Devising an individualized plan of care for each patient requires that your practice is up-to-date and based on the current evidence-based guidelines. Tracey Long, PhD, MSN, MS, RN, APRN-BC, CDE, CNE, CCRN, will share her expertise on the pharmacological management in this evolving specialty.

Program Information

Objectives

Differentiate between the nine currently available classes of medications to treat diabetes.
Apply ADA and AACE practice guidelines for medication decision making.
Describe side effects and effectiveness used for treatment of diabetes mellitus.
Explain the use of combination therapy for treatment of chronic hyperglycemia.

Outline

Diabetes Medication Classes

Oral antihyperglycemics: alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, biguanides, DPP4-inhibitors, meglitinides, SGLT2 inhibitors, sulfonylureas, thiazolidinediones
Injectable antihyperglycemics (not insulin): amylin analogs, incretin mimetics, GLP-1 agonists
Insulins: rapid, regular, intermittent, long acting

ADA and AACE Practice Guidelines

What has changed for 2022
Standards of care and diagnosing
Glycemic control algorithm
Guidelines for monotherapy and combination therapy

Comparison of Medication Side Effects

Medication decisions include side effects, organ effect, and adverse drug effects

Up-to-Date Prescription of Insulin

Insulin delivery systems: syringe, pen, pump, and inhaled insulin
Algorithm for adding/intensifying insulin
Patient education for storage, mixing and traveling
Multiple daily injections vs. continuous glucose monitoring

Target Audience

Nurses
Nurse Practitioners
Physicians
Physicians Assistants

Reduce Prescriber Liability Risk

The integration of nurse practitioners and physician assistants into various care settings has had a largely beneficial impact on healthcare, in terms of increased patient access to services and efficiency of operations.  Without careful attention paid to such issues as communication, documentation, and scope of practice, non-physician providers can expose themselves and healthcare settings to serious liabilities.  Learn strategies that reduce professional liability exposure to you and the organization(s) where you practice.

Program Information

Objectives

Evaluate drugs that are more commonly associated with adverse events and medication errors.
Analyze clinical examples of deviations from the standard of practice can lead to legal consequences.
Apply guidance from agencies concerned with the prevention of and response to medication errors.
Manage prescriptive decisions to reduce the possibility of legal consequences.

Outline

Trends in Regulations of APRNs and PAs
Scope of Practice Laws
Prescriptive Authority Risks
Medication Errors
Improper prescribing/Managing of controlled drugs
Failure to properly instruct patient
Privileging in Acute Care Settings
Institute for Safe Medication Practices
Legal Case Studies and Recommendations

Target Audience

Nurses
Nurse Practitioners
Physicians
Physicians Assistants

Gastrointestinal Pharmacology Update: Prescribing for Patient Outcome Achievement

Watch double certified Clinical Gastroenterologist Dr Peter Buch, as he provides solutions to your most challenging GI-related challenges in practice. Focusing on common patient concerns, including H pylori, c difficile, inflammatory bowel disease and chronic constipation, you will take away the latest pharmacologic best practice insights to guide your own prescriptive decisions.

Program Information

Objectives

Determine the current best medication practices for H pylori.
Select up-to-date approaches to manage chronic constipation.
Analyze the best pharmacological strategies for PPI use.
Explore important updates in clostridium difficile treatment.
Plan to incorporate the newest strategies for successful treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Outline

Helicobacter Pylori

Testing regimens
Clarithromycin resistance and need for quadruple therapy
Pill burden and risk of recurrence
How to manage refractory H pylori

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs)

Who needs chronic therapy
REAL side effects of PPIs

Clostridium Difficile

Should we still be using Metronidazole?
Vancomycin
Fidaxomicin
Fecal transplants - the ultimate probiotic
Bezlotoxumab

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

When to consider 5 ASAs
Antibiotics
Steroids
Antimetabolites
Anti TNFs
Vedolizumab
Ustekinumab
Tofacitiniub
Biosimilars

Opioid Induced Constipation

How to choose among: Osmotic or stimulant laxatives
PAMORAS: Naloxegol,Naldemedine, Methylnaltrexone
Secretogogues like Lubiprostone
Selective 5HT4 agonist like Prucalopride

Target Audience

Nurses
Nurse Practitioners
Physicians
Physicians Assistants