This course is supported in part by an unrestricted educational grant from Novo Nordisk.

The approach to neurological emergencies often seems daunting to non-neurologists. But as the population ages, these conditions will be seen with increasing frequency. Compared to some other areas in medicine, the neurological differential diagnosis, physical examination and imaging strategies seems (and often is) more complicated. As well, newer data have greatly impacted the field as the evidence base expands. At the same time, at many locales, on-site, real time neurological consultation may not be rapidly available. For all of these reasons, non-neurologists need to be able to handle, or at a minimum, strategize the acute management issues in patients with neurological emergencies.

This online course will help with all the above issues. In a case-based format, course participants will work through 5 patients with acute neurological emergencies that are both common and important. Our hope is that after taking this course, the participant will greatly increase his or her comfort in taking care of this important group of patients, and most importantly, that these efforts will be rewarded by better patient outcomes.

NUMBER OF CREDIT HOURS: The Harvard Medical School designates this enduring material for a maximum of 4 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

This course should take approximately 4 hours to complete.

COST: $80.00 for the average learner. Participants living in emerging nations receive a 50% discount or can register for free. See our International Pricing Page for details.

OVERALL LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

1. Be more comfortable treating patients with acute neurological emergencies and in interacting with neurologist consultants.
2. Understand some of the newer data regarding the time-dependency of some of these treatments.
3. Understand the uses and limitations of the neurological examination in managing neurological emergencies.

CLINICAL LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

1. Understand the issues in treating acute ischemic stroke.
2. Know the latest data in the approach to patients with intracranial hemorrhage.
3. Understand the principles in distinguishing patients with back pain due to serious disorders.
4. Avoid misdiagnosis of subarachnoid hemorrhage.

METHOD OF PARTICIPATION:

Registrants participate in the learning process by answering interactive multiple choice questions that are dispersed throughout the case presentation. You must answer a question correctly in order to continue through the course. If you answer a question incorrectly, you will be prompted to try again.

In order to earn credit, physicians must complete the entire educational activity before the termination date (see above). Non-physicians may register for the course but are not eligible for AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Instead, non-physicians will earn a certificate of participation after successfully completing the course before its termination date.

COMBINATION OF MEDIA USED:

This internet enduring material is a case-based, interactive presentation comprised mainly of text, interactive questions, and images. A variety of media, including video clips, audio clips, and Flash animation, may be presented. Links to any necessary plugins are provided when necessary, but no plugins are required for general use of the CME website, and you may skip the multimedia presentation(s) within the course if you choose.

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JONATHAN A. EDLOW, MD Course Director

Dr. Edlow was graduated from the University of Maryland School of Medicine in 1978. He trained in Internal Medicine at the Boston City Hospital and since finishing in 1981, he has practiced full-time emergency medicine. He is board-certified in both specialties. Since 1999, he has served as Vice-chairman of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and is also a Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Edlow’s clinical interests include tick-borne diseases and neurological emergencies. He lectures and publishes regularly on such topics as stroke, TIA, subarachnoid hemorrhage, various causes of weakness and dizziness. As well, he has written an award-winning book on the history of Lyme disease – Bull’s Eye: unraveling the medical mystery of Lyme disease. DISCLOSURE: Reported no relevant financial relationships with commercial entities (Novo Nordisk: Paid speaker/Ended @2007)

STEPHEN J. TRAUB, MD Course Contributor

Stephen J. Traub, MD, is the Co-Director of the Division of Toxicology in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Traub’s research interests include the diagnosis and treatment of body packers (those who smuggle large quantities of drugs by internal concealment) and the pathophysiology of drugs of abuse. DISCLOSURE: Cumberland Pharmaceuticals, Research Grant, Acetaminophen Poisoning

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JOSHUA N. GOLDSTEIN, MD, PHD Reviewer

Dr. Goldstein graduated from Weil Cornell 1957, Two years of general surgery at Boston City Hospital 1957-9. Macy Fellowship with Somers H Sturgis MD at Peter Bent Brigham in Gyn Endocinology 1959. Residency in Ob/Gyn at BostonLying-In 1960-3. Clinical Fellowship at NIH in Endocrinology Branch, NCI working with Dr. Roy Hertz on Endocrine-producing malignancies, mostly Choriocarcinoma. 1963-5. Returned to PBBH with NIH grant to establish New England Trophoblastic Disease Center at PBBH and BLI in 1965 which he still direct. Staff member of BWH(formerly BLI/FHW/PBBH) since 1965. Currently member of Div Gyn Oncology, DFC/BWH Cancer Center. DISCLOSURE: Company: Novo Nordisk, A/S Type of Relationship: Consultant

J. STEPHEN HUFF, MD Reviewer

Dr. J. Stephen Huff is an Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine and Neurology at the University of Virginia. He is a graduate of the Indiana University School of Medicine, 1979. He completed residencies in Neurology and Emergency Medicine at the University of Cincinnati and is certified in both specialties. Dr. Huff has at with the University of Virginia in Charlottesville since 1995. His areas of interest including neurologic emergencies and medical decision-making. He has numerous publications in the area of neurologic emergencies. DISCLOSURE: Reported no relevant financial relationships with commercial entities

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SANJIV CHOPRA, MD Planner

Dr. Sanjiv Chopra is Professor of Medicine and Faculty Dean for Continuing Medical Education at Harvard Medical School and Senior Consultant in Hepatology at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston. In his role as Faculty Dean for Continuing Education, Dr. Chopra provides oversight and leadership of the Department and oversees the academic development of our programs. Dr. Chopra is an experienced clinician, researcher, and educator. In his research roles, he has served both as a principal investigator as well as co-investigator. He has more than 120 publications and five books to his credit, addressing topics in disease states, patient care, and leadership. Dr. Chopra’s teaching experience is extensive, and he has won numerous teaching awards for his work with medical students, residents and physicians. Currently, he directs and speaks at 10 multiday CME courses, nine of which are through HMS. For his full bio, please click here. DISCLOSURE: Reported no relevant financial relationships with commercial entities.

ANDI LONG, EDM Planner

Andi Long directs the Department of Continuing Education’s Distance Learning group, which offers a variety of online continuing medical education programs to health care professionals around the world. Andi develops strategies for new pilot programs and systematically rolls out new distance learning initiatives and has a leadership role in IT planning and other online processes for HMS DCE. She oversees the day-to-day operations of each distance learning activity and ensures ACCME compliance across all enduring programs. She has had the privilege of working with hundreds of Harvard Medical School Faculty members to develop high-quality, engaging online programs that physicians in more than 170 countries have taken part in. Andi earned her Ed.M. in Technology, Innovation, and Education from Harvard Graduate School of Education and graduated from Bridgewater State College, summa cum laude, with a degree in English. Her professional interests focus on teaching and learning with new technologies and online course development. DISCLOSURE: Reported no relevant financial relationships with commercial entities.

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NUMBER OF CREDITS: 4 

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

The Harvard Medical School designates this enduring material for a maximum of 4 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

This course should take approximately 4 hours to complete.

Within 2 weeks of completing the course, you will receive your certificate via email.

Click the image to view a sample of the certificate

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