A Certified Continuing Education Activity:
1 Credit Category AMA PRATM
1 Hour Category 1A, AOA
1 Hour Nursing Credit
1 Hour Social Workers Credit
Target Audience
This activity is designed for physicians, PAs, nurses and others who care for patients in palliative care.
Statement of Need
Most healthcare professionals feel that their formal medical training did not prepare them to effectively manage pain and the associated opioid side effects. Patients receiving palliative care typically do not mention constipation or its effect on comfort, or don’t realize they are constipated nor do they associate constipation with opioid therapy. As a result, opioid-induced constipation, which is underappreciated, underrecognized and ineffectively managed, resulting in sub-optimal care.
Opioid induced side effects, including constipation, are an expected part of opioid pain management in palliative care. Many healthcare professionals accept constipation and therefore do not adequately communicate with patients and their caregivers the signs and symptoms of constipation or effectively treat constipation leading to unrecognized and unnecessary patient embarrassment and suffering.
Patients receiving palliative care should receive timely treatment for opioid side effects, including constipation, to minimize unnecessary patient suffering. Ideally, those who practice palliative care should:
Educational Objectives
Physicians Accreditation Statements
The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth is accredited by the American Osteopathic Association to award continuing medical education to physicians.
The University of North Texas Health Science Center is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to sponsor continuing medical education for physicians.
Physician Credit Designation
The University of North Texas Health Science Center has requested that the AOA Council on Continuing Medical Education approve this program for one hours of AOA Category 1A CME credits. Approval is currently pending.
The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)TM.
Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Physician Assistants Credit Designation
The American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) accepts AMA Category 1 CME credit for the PRA from organizations accredited by ACCME. The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth is accredited by ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians, and will provide physician assistants who successfully complete the activity with a Statement of Participation indicating that the activity was designated for 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)TM.
Nurse Practitioners Credit Designation
The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth is accredited by ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians, and will provide nurse practitioners who successfully complete the activity with a Statement of Participation indicating that the activity was designated for 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)TM.
NURSING ACCREDITATION & CREDIT:
The University of North Texas Health Science Center is an approved provider of continuing nursing education by the Texas Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.
This activity provides one contact hours for the nurse.
Social Workers Credit statement:
Continuing education credit for Social Workers in provided through the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, sponsor number CS3743. This activity in approved for 0.1 CEUs for Social Workers.
Other healthcare professionals will receive a certificate for individual reporting.
Faculty Presenters
Katherine Galluzzi, DO, FACOFP dist
A.B.H.P.M. Boarded
Professor and Chairperson, Department of Geriatrics
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Dr. Katherine Galluzzi has nothing to disclose.
Method of Instruction
To receive continuing education credit, participants must:
Fee
There is no charge for this activity.
Commercial Support
This activity is commercially supported by Wyeth.
Disclaimer
The methods, techniques of clinical practice and practice recommendations are evidence-based and are used by recognized medical authorities for consideration for licensed healthcare professionals to incorporate into practice. Variations of practice, taking into account the needs of the individual patient, available resources, limitations unique to each practice setting, and the clinicians own experience and judgment may be appropriate.
Hardware and Software Requirements