This course covers key topics in the diagnosis and evidence-based management of common atrial arrhythmias. It will discuss the clinical and electrocardiographic evaluation of these arrhythmias; medical management, including the use of and special considerations in antiarrhythmic drug therapy; assessment of thromboembolic risk and anticoagulation; and contemporary invasive strategies.

NUMBER OF CREDIT HOURS: The Harvard Medical School designates this educational activity for a maximum of 2 AMA PRA Category 1 credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

COST: $40.00
click here for pricing outside the United States of America

OVERALL LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Upon completing this course, participants will be able to:

1. Diagnose common atrial arrhythmias.
2. Evaluate patients with atrial arrhythmias.
3. Determine thromboembolic risk and guidelines for anticoagulation in atrial fibrillation.

CLINICAL LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

1. The participant will be updated on anticoagulation in the management of atrial arrhythmias.
2. Participants will understand contemporary medical, noninvasive, and invasive management strategies for atrial arrhythmias.
3. Particpants will recognize and manage major antiarrhythmic drug toxicity .

back to the top

JOSEPH J. GERMANO, DO Course Co-Director

Joseph Germano, DO is an assistant professor of medicine at Stony Brook Medical School. He is the director of the department of electrocardiography and associate director of cardiac electrophysiology at Winthrop-University Hospital in NY. Dr. Germano is heavily involved in the teaching of medical students, house staff and cardiovascular disease fellows. He performed his training in cardiac electrophysiology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, MA and actively collaborates with BIDMC on various clinical and research projects. His research interests include risk stratification of sudden death, complex ablations including atrial fibrillation, programming and testing of implantable defibrillators and lead management. DISCLOSURE:

PETER ZIMETBAUM, MD Course Co-Director

Bio and Photo Coming Soon. DISCLOSURE:

back to the top

MARK D. ARONSON, MD Reviewer

Bio and Photo Coming Soon. DISCLOSURE:

DAVID CALLANS, MD Reviewer

Bio and Photo Coming Soon. DISCLOSURE:

SAMUEL Z. GOLDHABER, MD Reviewer

Samuel Z. Goldhaber, MD, Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, chairs the Venous Disease Coalition. Dr. Goldhaber is a Senior Staff Member of the Cardiovascular Medicine Division of Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH). He is Director of the BWH Venous Thromboembolism Research Group and serves as Principal Investigator of a broad range of randomized clinical trials and observational studies related to the prevention, treatment, and epidemiology of venous thromboembolism. Dr. Goldhaber is also Director of the BWH Anticoagulation Service, which cares for more than 2,000 patients. The March 10, 2005, New England Journal of Medicine published his large clinical trial that described a new method using electronic alerts to enhance venous thromboembolism prophylaxis. This intervention reduced symptomatic DVT and PE by 41%, without an increase in bleeding complications. Dr. Goldhaber is also the Principal Investigator of an ongoing multicenter trial on Physician Alerts for patients at high risk of DVT or PE who are not receiving prophylaxis. In May 2006, he co-chaired the 2-day Surgeon General’s Workshop on DVT, which was cosponsored by the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI). He also serves on the National Comprehensive Cancer Network and National Quality Forum to formulate new treatment and prevention guidelines for venous thromboembolism. He is President and one of four Founding Directors of the nonprofit North American Thrombosis Forum (www.NATFonline.org), one of the 19 organizations comprising the Venous Disease Coalition. DISCLOSURE: Company: Sanofi-Aventis; Eisai; Boehringer-Ingelheim; BMS; GSK Type of Relationship: Research Support, Consultant; Research Support, Consultant; Research Support, Consultant; Research Support, Consultant; Research Support

BRIAN OLSHANSKY, MD Reviewer

Dr. Olshansky was graduated with distinction from Carleton College with a major in Chemistry in Northfield, Minnesota, and completed his MD at the University of Arizona. Following that, he completed residency training in Internal Medicine at Bellevue/NYU Hospitals, Cardiology Fellowship training at the University of Iowa, Electrophysiology Fellowship training at the University of Alabama, Birmingham (under Dr. Albert Waldo’s supervision) and then remained a staff member at the University of Alabama. From there, he has had faculty positions at Case Western Reserve University and Loyola University before returning to the University of Iowa in Iowa City. He was Director of Cardiac Electrophysiology and the Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology Fellowship Programs from 1994-2007. Dr. Olshansky has expertise in the evaluation and treatment of cardiac arrhythmias using state of the art techniques including: device implantation (pacemakers and implanted defibrillators), catheter ablation techniques, including for atrial fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia. He has performed research in the effects of autonomic influences on the heart. He is an internationally known expert in his field and recognized for his work regarding the assessment of arrhythmia mechanisms, multicenter randomized clinical trials, treatment of atrial and ventricular arrhythmias, assessment and treatment of the athlete with cardiac arrhythmias and the management of syncope. He is known for his diversity of interests ranging from technological and mechanistic aspects of cardiac electrophysiology to holistic issues regarding medical care, placebo effects and the doctor-patient relationship. He has taught ethics to medical students, was a member of the IRB and the IACUC committees for many years and is listed as one in Best Doctors in America. DISCLOSURE:

back to the top

NUMBER OF CREDITS: 2 

Harvard Medical School is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The Harvard Medical School designates this educational activity for a maximum of 2 AMA PRA Category 1 credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Upon completion of the course you will get a certificate via e-mail within 2 weeks.

Click the image to view a sample of the certificate

back to the top