Multiple Sclerosis Diagnosis and Management Strategies

Host Patricia K. Coyle, MD
Guest Bruce A. Cohen, MD, FAAN, FANA, FACP
Guest Clyde E. Markowitz, MD

Available credits: 0.50

Time to complete: 30 minutes

Released: 02/13/2019

Valid until: 02/12/2020

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Overview
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the leading cause of disability worldwide. Diagnosis of MS and clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) is difficult, yet healthcare providers (HCPs) frequently fail to use diagnostic guidelines that could expedite diagnosis and early treatment. Outcomes for patients are further complicated by patient nonadherence, tolerability issues, and difficulty with assessing ongoing disease activity.
This interactive online activity will harness the power of reflection by presenting patient scenarios followed by assessment and management questions that explore how patients could have been managed differently and optimally. Through multiple patient encounters, expert faculty will demonstrate how you can prevent repetition of missteps that lead to complications. 
Provider
Faculty
Patricia K. Coyle, MD – CHAIR
Professor and Vice Chair, Department of Neurology
Founder and Director, Multiple Sclerosis Comprehensive Care Center
Stony Brook University Medical Center
Stony Brook, NY
Bruce A. Cohen, MD, FAAN, FANA, FACP
Professor, Davee Department of Neurology and Clinical Neurosciences
Chief, Division of MS and Neuroimmunology
Director, Northwestern Comprehensive Multiple Sclerosis Program
Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, and Northwestern Medicine
Chicago, IL
Clyde Markowitz, MD
Director, Multiple Sclerosis Center
Penn Medicine
Associate Professor of Neurology
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA
Conflict of Interest Policy/Disclosure Statement
The Postgraduate Institute for Medicine (PIM) requires instructors, planners, managers, and other individuals who are in a position to control the content of this activity to disclose any real or apparent conflict of interest (COI) they may have as related to the content of this activity. All identified COI are thoroughly vetted and resolved according to PIM policy. 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:
Patricia K. Coyle, MD, has affiliations with Accordant, Acorda Therapeutics, Bayer, Biogen, Celgene, Genentech/Roche, Genzyme/Sanofi, Novartis, and Serono (Consulting); Actelion, Genentech/Roche, MedDay Pharmaceuticals, NINDS, and Novartis (Contracted Research).
Bruce A. Cohen, MD, FAAN, FANA, FACP, has affiliations with Biogen, Celgene, EMD Serono (Consulting); Genentech/Roche, MedDay Pharmaceuticals, and Novartis (Contracted Research).
Clyde Markowitz, MD has affiliations with Actelion, Bayer, Biogen, Celgene, EMD Serono, Genentech/Roche, Novartis, and Sanofi/Genzyme (Consulting).
Planners and Managers
The PIM planners and managers have nothing to disclose. RMEI Medical Education, LLC planners and managers have nothing to disclose.
Target Audience
The target audience for this activity is neurology providers (including physicians, nurse practitioners [NPs], and physician assistants [PAs]) who diagnose and manage patients with multiple sclerosis.
Learning Objectives
1. Recognize and diagnose the spectrum of MS, from CIS to the various forms of MS (ie, relapsing-remitting and progressive forms) using established, updated clinical, imaging, and laboratory criteria
2. Appropriately use available and emerging DMTs for MS based on their efficacy, safety, and tolerability profiles, as well as their approved or anticipated indications for the various forms of MS
3. Recognize and manage treatment failure, including switching DMTs
4. Monitor disease and patient outcomes, including patient adherence, according to recommended protocols
5. Use shared decision making when prescribing DMTs to improve treatment adherence and patient outcomes
6. Appropriately manage MS in women of child-bearing age
Joint Accreditation Statement
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by the Postgraduate Institute for Medicine and RMEI Medical Education, LLC. The Postgraduate Institute for Medicine 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.
The Postgraduate Institute for Medicine designates this enduring material for a maximum of 0.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Commercial Supporters
This activity is supported by educational grants from Biogen, Inc., Genentech, and Sanofi Genzyme.
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 and/or dangers in use, review of any applicable manufacturer’s product information, and comparison with recommendations of other authorities.
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. The planners of this activity 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 the planners. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.
How to Receive Credit
By reviewing the course content and successfully completing the post-test and evaluation, physicians and PAs are entitled to receive up to 0.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ and nurses are entitled to receive up to 0.5 contact hour. A statement of credit will be available to print from your user history page. Users must:
- Read the learning objectives and faculty disclosures.
- Participate in the activity.
- Complete the activity post-test and evaluation.
Physicians and PAs who successfully complete the post-test and evaluation will receive CME/CE credit. You must score 75% or higher on the post-test to receive credit for this activity. All other participants who successfully complete the post-test and evaluation will receive a certificate of participation. If you have any questions about this CE activity, please contact PIM at inquiries@pimed.com.
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