CME INFORMATION
Target Audience
This activity has been designed to meet the educational needs of neurologists, registered nurses, pharmacists and other allied healthcare professionals involved in the care of patients with MS.
Statement of Need
This activity has been designed to provide a clinically relevant overview of best practice and future opportunities for managing patients with multiple sclerosis.
Educational Objectives
After completing this activity, participants should be better able to:
- Specify the appropriate utility of various diagnostic techniques in the early diagnosis of patients with MS
- Explain current therapeutic options for MS, including safety, efficacy, and patient
tolerability - Identify clinical criteria for response and non‑response in patients with MS
- Describe how novel agents for MS may offer benefits over existing therapies
- Outline how novel agents for MS could be integrated into current clinical practice.
Faculty
Mark S. Freedman, MD, FRCP(C), FAAN (Chair)
Professor of Medicine (Neurology)
Director, Multiple Sclerosis Research Unit
Ottawa Health Research Institute
Ottawa, ON, Canada
Bruce A. Cohen, MD, FACP, FAAN
Professor of Neurology
Davee Department of Neurology
Feinberg School of Medicine
Chicago, IL
Mary D. Hughes, MD
Associate Professor of Neurology
Director, Augusta MS Center
Medical College of Georgia School of Medicine
Augusta, GA
Clyde E. Markowitz, MD
Associate Professor of Neurology
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA
Accreditation Statement
Physicians
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint sponsorship of Postgraduate Institute for Medicine (PIM) and Strategic Consultants International (SCI). PIM is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Postgraduate Institute for Medicine designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.75 AMA PRA Category 1 credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Pharmacists
Accreditation Statement
Postgraduate Institute for Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy
Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education.
Credit Designation
Postgraduate Institute for Medicine designates this continuing education activity for
1.75 contact hour(s) (0.175 CEUs) of the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education.
(Universal Activity Number - 809-999-09-077-H01-P)
A statement of credit will be issued only upon receipt of a completed activity evaluation form and a completed post-test with a score of 70% or better.
If you have received credit for UAN 809-999-09-048-L01-P or 809-999-09-076-H01-P you are not eligible for this activity.
Nurses
Purpose
This program has been developed to provide a clinically relevant overview of current best practice and future opportunities for managing patients with multiple sclerosis.
Credit Designation
This educational activity for 1.75 contact hours is provided by Postgraduate Institute for Medicine.
Accreditation Statement
Postgraduate Institute for Medicine is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by
the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.
Fee Information
This is no fee for this educational activity.
Media
Internet
Disclosure of Unlabeled Use
This educational activity may contain discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not indicated by the FDA. Postgraduate Institute for Medicine (PIM), Strategic Consultants International, (SCI) and Novartis Pharmaceuticals do not recommend the use of any agent outside of the labeled indications.
The opinions expressed in the educational activity are those of the faculty and do not necessarily represent the views of PIM, SCI and Novartis Pharmaceuticals. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.
Method of Participation
There are no fees for participating and receiving CME/CE credit for this activity. During the period July 1, 2009, through July 1, 2010, participants must: (1) read the learning objectives and faculty disclosures; (2) study the educational activity; (3) complete the post-test by recording the best answer to each question; (4) complete this evaluation verification of participation by recording the best answer to each question in the answer key on the evaluation form; (5) upon successfully completing the post-test and evaluation, your certificate will be made available immediately. Submit online to Postgraduate Institute for Medicine at the end of the activity.
A statement of credit will be issued only upon receipt of a completed activity evaluation form and a completed post-test with a score of 70% or better.
Disclaimer
Participants have an implied responsibility to use the newly acquired information to enhance patient outcomes and their own professional development. The information presented in this activity is not meant to serve as a guideline for patient management. Any procedures, medications, or other courses of diagnosis or treatment discussed or suggested in this activity should not be used by clinicians without evaluation of their patient’s conditions and possible contraindications on dangers in use, review of any applicable manufacturer’s product information, and comparison with recommendations of other authorities.
Syllabus Disclosure Statement
Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest
Postgraduate Institute for Medicine (PIM) assesses conflict of interest with its instructors, planners, managers and other individuals who are in a position to control the content of CME activities. All relevant conflicts of interest that are identified are thoroughly vetted by PIM for fair balance, scientific objectivity of studies utilized in this activity, and patient care recommendations. PIM is committed to providing its learners with high quality CME activities and related materials that promote improvements or quality in healthcare and not a specific proprietary business interest of a commercial interest.
The faculty reported the following financial relationships or relationships to products or devices they or their spouse/life partner have with commercial interests related to the content of this CME activity:
| Name of Faculty or Presenter | Reported Financial Relationship |
| Mark S. Freedman, MD, FRCP(C), FAAN (Chair) |
Advisor: Barofold, Bayer, Biogen-Idec, BioMS, Eli Lilly, Merck Serono,
Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Sanofi-Aventis, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. Honoraria: Bayer, Biogen-Idec, EMD Serono, Genentech, Merck Serono, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer, Sanofi-Aventis, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. |
| Bruce A. Cohen, MD, FACP, FAAN | Clinical Trial Investigator: Biogen-Idec, BMS Medical, EMD Serono,
Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Teva Neuroscience, Inc. Consultant, Speaker: Bayer, Biogen-Idec, EMD Serono, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Teva Neuroscience, Inc. |
| Mary D. Hughes, MD | Consultant: Medtronic, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. Research Support: Biogen-Idec, Genentech, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. Speaker: Bayer, Biogen-Idec, Serono, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. |
| Clyde E. Markowitz, MD | Advisory Board: BioMS, Eli Lilly Consultant: Bayer, Biogen-Idec, Eli Lilly, EMD Serono, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. Speaker: Bayer, Biogen-Idec, Pfizer, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. |
The planners and managers reported the following financial relationships or relationships to products or devices they or their spouse/life partner have with commercial interests related to the content of this CME activity:
| Name of Planner or Manager | Company and Relationship |
| Samantha Mattiucci, PharmD | PIM - Nothing to disclose |
| Joyce M. Anderson, Project Director | PIM - Nothing to disclose |
| Linda Graham, RN, BSN, BA | PIM - Nothing to disclose |
| Jan Hixon, RN, BSN, MA | PIM - Nothing to disclose |
| Trace Hutchison, PharmD | PIM - Nothing to disclose |
| Julia Kirkwood, RN, BSN | PIM - Nothing to disclose |
| Jan Schultz, RN, MSN, CCMEP | PIM - Nothing to disclose |
| Sarah Diffen, Associate Project Director |
Strategic Consultants International - Nothing to disclose |
| John Gill, Vice President |
Strategic Consultants International - Nothing to disclose |
