Journal of Innovation in Cardiac Rhythm Management
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Activity Description
The CME-accredited on-demand archive features the proceedings from a lunch symposium held at the STS 62nd Annual Meeting. The activity features leading experts who discuss the importance of maintaining sinus rhythm to reduce the risk of heart failure, stroke, and dementia, and to improve patients' quality of life. The faculty share their experiences through engaging presentations that highlight the significance of timing, clinical decision-making strategies, and optimal procedural techniques to prevent the unintended consequences of not being in normal sinus rhythm. 

 

Agenda

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Access On-Demand Webcast

 

Claiming Credits and Certificate Fulfillment
After viewing the video, access the CME Accreditation tab >>, click on the Claim Credit Button, and complete the post-activity evaluation form. Participants can download or print a certificate once the form has been successfully submitted.

Agenda • Times Listed are Eastern Standard Time

Welcome and Introductions
Edward Soltesz, MD

HF, Dementia, Risk of Stroke in AF: The Struggle is Real
Edward Soltesz, MD

Prevalence of AF: Identifying Patients and Proper Treatment Strategies
Elissa Castor, MPAS, PA-C

Implementation of AF Treatment During Surgical Cases:
It’s All About AF Burden Reduction
Gianluca Torregrossa, MD

Benefits of LAAM during Concomitant Afib Ablation:
Considerations Beyond Embolic Protection
Pouya Hemmati, MD

Panel Discussion with Q&A Session
Moderator: Edward Soltesz, MD
Panel: Elissa Castor, MPAS, PA-C, Gianluca Torregrossa, MD, and Pouya Hemmati, MD
 

Faculty

Program Chair, Moderator, and Presenter

Edward Soltesz MD

Edward Soltesz, MD
Donna and Ken Lewis Endowed Chair in Cardiothoracic Surgery
Surgical Director of the Kaufman Center for Heart Failure and Recovery
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland, OH

Faculty
Elissa Castor PA C

Elissa Castor, MPAS, PA-C
Cardiac Surgery Outpatient APP Supervisor
UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute
Pittsburgh, PA
Pouya Hemmati MD

Pouya Hemmati, MD
Chief of Robotic Cardiac Surgery
Director of Cardiovascular Surgery Research
Baptist Health – Little Rock
Little Rock, AK

Gianluca Torregrossa MD

Gianluca Torregrossa, MD
Director of Robotic Coronary and Coronary Revascularization Program
Department of Cardiac Surgery
Main Line Health - Lankenau Heart Institute - Philadelphia
Wynnewood, PA

 

CME Accreditation

On-Demand Webcast Claiming Credit
To earn credit upon viewing the video, click on the Claim CME button and successfully complete the post-activity CME test. This activity provides 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™for Physicians and 1 Contact Hour for Nurses.

Live Symposium Attendance Claiming Credit
Continuing Medical Education Credits are available to claim for conference attendance until 1/30/2027 by clicking the Claim CME button and completing the post-activity evaluation form. 1 CME Certificate is supplied electronically for the cumulative credits earned commensurate with the extent of participation in the activity.

Accreditation Statement
Physicians. This educational activity is accredited for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA CATEGORY 1 Credits™.  Nurses and Other Healthcare Professionals. All other healthcare professionals will receive a Certificate of Participation. Consult your professional licensing board for information on the applicability and acceptance of Certificates of Participation for activities designated for AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.

Target Audience
This activity has been developed to meet the educational needs of thoracic and cardiothoracic surgeons, associated professionals, and other members of the surgical care team.

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

  • Examine the significance of maintaining sinus rhythm to prevent the risks of heart failure, stroke, and dementia.
  • Evaluate the prevalence of AF, patient identification, and treatment strategies.
  • Discuss the implementation of AF treatment during surgical cases and its impact on AF burden reduction.  

Activity Goal
This activity is designed to address the following core and team competencies: Patient care, medical knowledge, practice-based learning and improvement, interprofessional collaboration, and roles and responsibilities.

Accreditation Statement
Jointly Accredited Provider TMMediaSphere Medical and Ciné-Med have planned and implemented this activity to improve patient care. Ciné-Med is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Physicians. This educational activity is accredited for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA CATEGORY 1 Credits™.  Nurses and Other Healthcare Professionals. All other healthcare professionals will receive a Certificate of Participation. Consult your professional licensing board for information on the applicability and acceptance of Certificates of Participation for activities designated for AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.

Claiming Credits
CME Credits can be claimed immediately after the symposium. One electronically issued certificate will cover all CME Credits earned through participation. At the end of the activity, a notification will be sent to the registration email with instructions on how to claim credits. The Program Guide, distributed at the symposium, will also include directions for claiming credits. 

Disclosure Policy
MediaSphere Medical and Ciné-Med adhere to accreditation requirements concerning industry support of continuing medical education. Speakers are required to openly disclose any limitations of data and/or any discussion of any off-label, experimental, or investigational uses of drugs or devices in their presentations. Speakers will disclose any relationships at the beginning of their presentations.

All MediaSphere Medical and Ciné-Med employees in control of content have indicated that they have no relevant financial relationships to disclose.

It is the policy of MediaSphere Medical and Ciné-Med to ensure balance, independent objectivity, and scientific rigor in all its supported educational programs. All faculty members participating in educational activities are required to disclose to the program audience any real of apparent conflicts of interest held within the past 12 months.

MediaSphere Medical and Ciné-Med implement a mechanism to identify and resolve all conflicts of interest prior to delivering the educational activity to learners.

Non-Endorsement Statement
MediaSphere Medical and Ciné-Med verify that sound education principles have been demonstrated in the development of this educational offering as evidenced by the review of its objectives, teaching plan, faculty, and activity evaluation process. MediaSphere Medical and Ciné-Med does not endorse or support the actual opinions or material content as presented by the speaker(s) and/or sponsoring organization.

Commercial Support
This activity is supported through an educational grant from AtriCure

Joint Providership:
MediaSphere Medical, LLC and Ciné-Med

 

Claim CME

CME/CE Test
  1. Please complete the following CME/CE post-test. Your submission will be reviewed and notification provided shortly regarding certificate fulfillment status. To receive AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™, you must receive a minimum score of 70% on the post-test.

  2. First Name: *  
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  3. Last Name: *  
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  4. Primary Email Address: *  
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  5. Confirm Your Email: *  
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  6. Degree: *  
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  7. Specialty:*  
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  8. Institution: *  
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  9. Mailing Address:*  
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  10. City: *  
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  11. State: *  
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  12. 1) What are the long-term consequences of leaving AF untreated?
  13. Select one*  


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  14. 2) If AF is not addressed during the time of CABG, there is a >20% increase in mortality by 10 years, and an increased post op morbidity (2x stroke)
  15. Select one*  


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  16. 3) Which statement is accurate regarding the evidence supporting concomitant AF treatment?
  17. Select one*  






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  18. 4) The Left Atrial Appendage is the main source of thromboembolism in AF, and surgical exclusion is durable and definitive. AF ablation without LAA management is incomplete therapy.
  19. Select one*  


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  20. 5) AF burden is the key driver of AF-related morbidity, and surgical intervention is uniquely positioned to reduce AF burden, which changes outcomes, even without perfect rhythm control. Additionally, concomitant AF treatment should be the default during cardiac surgery.
  21. Select one*  


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  22. Although optional, we respectfully request that you complete the activity evaluation form, since your feedback assists in the development of future educational activities.

  23. Background

    Please rate each question using a scale of 1 to 5 (1 = Beginner, 5 = Advanced)


  24. I would consider my level of expertise in the subject matter prior to the webcast as:
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  25. I would consider my level of expertise in the subject matter after the activity:
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  26. Considering my experience and background, the material presented was:
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  27. Extent to which activity met the identified objectives
    Please rate each question using a scale of 1 to 5 (1 = Not Met, 5 = Completely Met)

  28. Examine the significance of maintaining sinus rhythm to prevent the risks of heart failure, stroke, and dementia.
    Invalid Input Please Select one

  29. Evaluate the prevalence of AF, patient identification, and treatment strategies.
    Invalid Input Please Select one

  30. Discuss the implementation of AF treatment during surgical cases and its impact on AF burden reduction.
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  31. Information Presented
    Please evaluate the information that was presented by answering Yes, No, Maybe or Not Applicable

  32. Reinforced my current practice/treatment habits:
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  33. Will improve my practice/patient outcomes:
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  34. Enhanced my current knowledge base:
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  35. Provided new ideas or information that I expect to use:
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  36. Information gained from this conference will result in making a change in your practice:
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  37. Future activities on this subject matter is important to my practice:
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  38. Addressed a professional practice gap:
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  39. Was free of commercial bias/influence:
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  40. What barriers do you anticipate in incorporating best practices learned in this activity into clinical activities or quality improvement initiatives at your institution?
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  41. What mechanisms can you identify to overcome these barriers?
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  42. (*) Required Fields
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