CME INFORMATION

ACCREDITATION STATEMENT

This continuing medical education activity was plannedand produced in accordance with the Accreditation Councilfor Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) Essentials andStandards. The American Medical Directors Association(AMDA) is accredited by the ACCME to sponsor continuingmedical education for physicians.

CREDIT STATEMENTS

AMDA designates this educational activity for a maximumof 8 hours in category 1 credit toward the AMA Physician’sRecognition Award. One credit hour may be earned for eacharticle read and each corresponding test completed. Eachphysician should claim only those hours he/she actually spenton the activity.

This educational activity has been approved for a maxi-mum of 8 credit hours in medical direction. Credit hours maybe applied toward certification as a Certified Medical Directorin Long Term Care (CMD). The CMD program is adminis-tered by the American Medical Directors Certification Pro-gram (AMDCP). Each physician should claim only thosehours of credit actually spent on the activity.

Credit hours will be awarded for one year after release date.Release date: March 2002.

GRANT SUPPORT

The CME activity contained within this JAMDA CMEDigest is supported by an unrestricted educational grant fromNovartis Pharmaceuticals.

TARGET AUDIENCE

This CME activity is intended for physicians who practiceas medical directors, attending physicians, or consultants inthe long-term care continuum.

STATEMENT OF NEED AND LEARNING OBJECTIVES

● AMDA members have asked for journal-based CMEactivities in verbal comments to staff and EducationCommittee members and in written comments on courseevaluation forms.

● AMDA’s Education Committee recognizes the need todiversify methods of delivery of CME and recognizes thevalue of journal-based CME as evidenced in other med-ical journals.

● Topics and content are determined by ongoing needsassessment by the Education Committee using courseevaluations, emerging issues in clinical practice, emerg-ing issues in federal and state regulations and surveyrequirements, a review of the medical literature for long-term care, and discussions with peers.

Needs addressed by articles in this issue of JAMDA CMEDigest include:

● Case studies and outcomes in long-term care settings;● Review of prevailing literature and experience in end-of-

life care;● Proposals for solutions to medication errors and adverse

drug events;● Insights into survey and regulatory issues;● Medical directors’ core management role;● Heightened awareness of emerging concerns in long-

term care.

AMDA provides this journal-based CME activity with thefollowing objectives: Readers will

● Determine their own educational needs and select arti-cles that address these needs;

● Assess the value of the articles to their practice needs;and,

● Consider how new information gained through journal-based CME may be translated into action that enhancesdaily practice.

Specific learning objectives for each article precede thearticle.

AMDA DISCLAIMER STATEMENT

Readers understand that medical and scientific knowledgeare constantly evolving. The views and treatment modalitiesof the authors are their own and may reflect innovations(including off-label or investigational use of medical products)and opinions not universally shared. Every effort has beenmade to assure the accuracy of the data presented in thecontext of accepted medical practice. Physicians should checkspecific details, such as drug doses and contraindications,off-label uses, or other details, in standard sources prior toclinical application. The views and treatment modalities ofthe authors are not those of the American Medical DirectorsAssociation (AMDA), but are presented in this forum toadvance scientific and medical education.

REQUIREMENT FOR AUTHOR DISCLOSURE

ACCME and AMDA policy requires full disclosure of anyaffiliation or financial interest that is directly relevant to anauthor’s article(s). In addition, authors are required to disclosewhen references to pharmaceuticals, medical devices, or othertherapeutic products used in treatments are “off-label” (notapproved by the FDA for the use described).

Printed disclosures made by authors precede each article.When authors did not return disclosure forms/information,this is also annotated preceding the article. When no disclo-sure statement or annotation is printed, there is no disclosureto be made regarding the content of the abstract.

S32 JAMDA – March/April 2002