CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION

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 the American Academy of Emergency Medicine (AAEM) and Giant Steps in Emergency Medicine. 

Accreditation Statement
The American Academy of Emergency Medicine (AAEM) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.   

Designation Statement
The AAEM designates this educational activity for a maximum of 20.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™.  Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. 

Optional Workshops

·    LLSA 2008 Article Review Workshop

The AAEM designates this educational activity for a maximum of 2.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™.  Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. 

·    Pediatric Procedures Workshop

The AAEM designates this educational activity for a maximum of 2.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™.  Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. 

Disclosure Policy
All planning committee members and faculty participating in CME programs sponsored by AAEM are required to disclose to the audience any real or apparent conflicts of interest to the content of their presentations.  AAEM’s Education Committee and ACCME Subcommittee have established procedures to resolve conflict of interest.

Target Audience
The target audience includes board-certified emergency physicians; nurses, physician assistants and other health-care professionals involved in emergency care, as well as primary care physicians looking for updates in the practice of emergency medicine.

Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:

a)  Provide attendees with cutting-edge evidence-based information for the care of common and uncommon problems presenting to an emergency department.

b)  Present attendees with a syllabus full of up-to-date information which can be used in the practice of emergency medicine.

c)  Summarize important evidence-based advances in other areas of medicine which have a major impact on the treatment of Emergency Department patients.

d)  Sharpen EKG interpretation skills and recognize subtle manifestations of life-threatening disease.

e)  Critically analyze promotional material from pharmaceutical companies to determine whether new drugs are appropriate or helpful in treating emergency patients.

f)  Recognize life-threatening and disabling conditions which can present in a pediatric population.

g)  Discuss uncommon presentations of common problems in a geriatric population.

h)  Develop a treatment plan for several common sight-threatening presentations of eye complaints.

i)  Describe an appropriate “safety net” for a child receiving procedural sedation in the Emergency Department.

j)  Prepare for the annual Life-Long Self Assessment examination by thoroughly assessing the required readings.

Methods of Instruction
Didactic sessions will be the primary method of instruction, although time will be set aside to answer written and verbal questions submitted by audience participants.