Cardiology Review for Primary Care Medicine

Primary and Secondary Prevention of Failure
Objectives: 1) Relate the importance of primary prevention for coronary artery disease
2) Appraise clinical trials of lipid lowering agents for primary and secondary prevention of coronary artery disease
3)Determine the importance of rehabilitation and nonpharmacological treatment from prevention and treatment of coronary artery disease

Cardiac Devices
Objectives:
1) Relate the impact of contemporary heart failure therapy
2) Appraise the principles of ICD use and clinical indications for patients with heart failure
3) Specify and relate the benefits of Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT)

“Tricks of the Trade” – A Primary Care Approach to the Patient
Objectives:
1) Assess the patient with pathophysiologic background
2) Develop innovative history-taking techniques
3) Plan a physical exam targeted to volume and cardiac output

Hypertension
Objectives:
1) Apply the current JNC recommendations for treatment of hypertension
2) Develop a rational approach to choosing appropriate medications for treating hypertension
3) Determine when and how to implement an evaluation for secondary causes of hypertension

End of Life Care
Objectives:
1) Relate the clinical pathway of signs and symptoms for end-stage heart failure (HF)
2) Detect and appraise the known prognostic indicators for patients with HF
3) Distinguish the difference between sudden death and pump failure and how to discuss each with patients with HF

Future Research in Heart Failure
Objectives:
1) Relate novel mechanistic approaches to therapy
2) Analyze on-going clinical trials of heart failure therapy
3) Assess the public health issues and the role of the new health care law

Overview of the Pathophysiology and Epidemiology of Heart Failure
Objectives:
1) Illustrate the pathophysiologic mechanisms of heart failure
2) Appraise the presentation and therapy of preserved systolic function in heart failure
3) Interpret the role of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system

Heart Failure and Preserved Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction (LVEF)
Objectives:
1) Assess the severity of current or past symptoms
2) Assess the prognosis of the individual patient with HFPEF
3) Predict and plan for possible complications of therapy

Cardiac Rehabilitation: Exercise Testing and Conditioning
Objectives:
1) Appropriately prescribe exercise in patients with heart failure
2) Appraise the abnormal exercise physiology of the heart failure patient
3) Relate the physiologic benefits reported with exercise in heart failure

Arrhythmias Management
Objectives:
1) Develop a systematic approach to ventricular arrhythmias
2) Appraise the role of anticoagulation and employ evidence-based treatment of atrial fibrillation
3) Adapt and use a systematic approach to atrial fibrillation

Disease Management, Transitions of Care, and Home Telehealth in Heart Failure
Objectives:
1) Develop and present education relevant to each individual patient and caregivers
2) Determine which patients are eligible for telehealth
3) Contrast and distinguish the differences among telehealth systems

Pharmacologic Rx of HF and How to Use the Drug
Objectives:
1) Present the clinical trial data on ACEI, ARB and beta blockers
2) Discuss the benefits of vasodilators in the AA patient
3) Compare different approaches to medication prescribing