Upcoming Continuing Education Programs

Target Audience:
Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians

Program Overview:
This program will assist pharmacists in understanding the facets of the pain felt by patients who are dying and the benefits of alleviating the pain during this process. It will also enhance their knowledge of the available options for those patients in this situation. The program includes information on pharmacological treatments, patient counseling, and a question/ answer period.

About the speaker: Dr. McPherson is a Professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science. She serves as a consultant pharmacist for both local and national hospice and palliative care programs, and has designed a critical thinking process for appropriate drug use in end of life patients. She serves on the Board of the Hospice Network of Maryland, chairing the Education and Outreach Committee. She also serves on the Board of the Maryland Pain Initiative and the Advisory Board of the American Society of Pain Educators.

Dr. McPherson teaches extensively in the Pharm.D. curriculum on pain management and end of life care, including didactic and experiential content. McPherson also serves as a primary care pharmacist and Director of Pharmacotherapy Services at University Care Waxter in Baltimore.

Educational Objectives:

• Describe communication strategies to better counsel and treat patients who seek palliative pain relief.
• Differenentiate between acute and chronic pain, including presentation and patient management.
• Describe the pathogenesis of pain in patients with advanced illness, and the drug therapy selection process to manage pain in these patients.
• Explain the regulations and guidelines for the disposal of controlled substances at the time of death.

Repeat Presentation:
This is the first presentation of this lecture.

Accreditation:
Pharmacists
Technicians

PharmCon is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education.


Refund Policy:
“PharmCon provides full refunds of paid amounts if cancellations are made more than 24 hours prior to the scheduled time of the event and the request is submitted by email to: admin@pharmcon.com. Cancellations after that time will forfeit their registration fees.

Financial Support Provided By:
This webcast has been supported by an educational grant from Endo Pharmaceuticals.

Target Audience:
Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians

Program Overview:
Make it a priority to log on and participate in this very important topic of How to protect your License. Attorney Robert Esgro, from Villanova, PA, reveals all for this one credit live law program. Gain the knowledge of everything you need to know about your state board of pharmacy and your license.

Robert Esgro, Esq is a Pharmacy Law Specialist out of Villanova Pennsylvania. He is also a Medical Editor and Consultant for Edward Newland Associates. Robert is a graduate of Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science and Widener University School of Law. He has worked for Merck & Co. as an Industrial Pharmacist as well as in the Merck marketing department. He continues to stay active in the practice of pharmacy and is knowledgeable of the working environment of the front line pharmacist. He belongs to several professional organizations including the American Pharmaceutical Association, American Bar Association, American Health Lawyers Association, The American Association of Nurse Attorneys, American Society of Pharmacy Law, and the Potomac Pharmacist Association where he was a former President.

Due to monitoring guidelines, computer sharing is NOT permitted. Credit is given to one user per computer..

Educational Objectives:

• Contrast the differences between civil litigation, criminal case, and a Board of Pharmacy action.
• Describe the various ways a Board of Pharmacy Complaint is filed against a pharmacist or a technician.
• Define the terms Complaint, Consent Agreement, and VRP.
• List the various penalties which a Board of Pharmacy can impose on a pharmacists or a technician.

Repeat Presentation:
This is a first time presentation.

Accreditation:
All presentations are ACPE approved.
Pharmacists 798-000-08-052-L03-P
Pharmacy Technicians 798-000-08-052-L-03-T
PharmCon is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education.

Refund Policy:
“PharmCon provides full refunds of paid amounts if cancellations are made more than 24 hours prior to the scheduled time of the event and the request is submitted by email to: admin@pharmcon.com. Cancellations after that time will forfeit their registration fees.

Financial Support Provided By:
PharmCon, Inc has provided partial financial support.

Target Audience:
Pharmacist, Pharmacy Technicians

Program Overview:
This presentation is approved for two credits of Medical Errors by Florida Board of Pharmacy, and is acceptable for two credits of ACPE designated law program by New Jersey and New York Boards of Pharmacy. Program attendance is reported to CE Broker for Florida pharmacists.

David Brushwood, RPh., JD, Professor of Pharmacy Health Care Administration at the University of FL College of Pharmacy, will return as speaker for this presentation.

Repeat Presentation:
This presentation was also presented on 3/27/08, 5/1/08, and 6/11/08.


This is a special presentation, and "virtual seats" are limited.

Educational Objectives for Pharmacists:

• Describe threats to quality that are present in pharmacy practice
• Outline techniques and procedures that can be used to reduce pharmacy errors
• Devise practices that will facilitate pharmacy error detection and prevention

Educational Objectives for Pharmacy Technicians:

• Describe threats to quality that are present in pharmacy practice
• Outline techniques and procedures that can be used to reduce pharmacy errors
• Devise practices that will facilitate pharmacy error detection and prevention

Pharmacists 798-000-08-027-L03P Pharmacy Technicians 798-000-08-027-L03T
PharmCon is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education.


Refund Policy:
PharmCon provides full refunds of paid amounts if cancellations are made more than 24 hours prior to the scheduled time of the event and the request is submitted by email to: admin@pharmcon.com.

Cancellations after that time will forfeit their registration fees.

Target Audience:
Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians

Program Overview:
Medication nonadherence is a pervasive issue that threatens patients’ outcomes and is very costly to the health care system. This program will explore this complex concern and present some proven practical solutions.

Dr. Wendy Rosenthal, President of MedOutcomes, will be the presenter for this webcast. Wendy Munroe Rosenthal is the President of MedOutcomes, Inc. She received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the Medical University of South Carolina and her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from the University of Georgia.

Dr. Rosenthal has spoken nationally on the topics of pharmaceutical care and disease state management. In addition, she has authored a number of papers and textbooks on these subjects.

Educational Objectives:

• Define the terms compliance, adherence, and persistence.
• Identify specific tactics pharmacists can use to improve medication adherence.
  

Accreditation:
All presentations are ACPE approved.
Pharmacists 798-000-08-034-L04-P
Pharmacy Technicians 798-000-08-034-L04-T
PharmCon is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education.

Refund Policy:
There is no fee for this educational activity.

Financial Support Provided By:
MERCK & Co, Merck/Schering-Plough Pharmaceuticals.

Target Audience:
Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians

Program Overview:
Pharmacists can play a pro-active role in the treatment of bipolar disorder and the adherence problems associated with the illness. This program will give pharmacists an understanding of the underlying condition, potential of currently available treatment options and the need to educate patients and family members on the long-term medication and adherence problems commonly encountered with bipolar patients.

Dr. Montagnese is board certified in adult, child, and adolescent psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. Dr. Montagnese provides comprehensive psychiatric evaluation and treatment for individuals, couples and families. Her primary area of focus is working with children and adolescents but she also treats adults. Dr. Montagnese received her medical degree at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. She completed her general psychiatry and child psychiatry training at the Penn State University Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. Dr. Montagnese is the medical director at Family and Children Services of Central Pennsylvania. This is a United Way funded nonprofit agency that serves the greater Harrisburg, York and Lancaster areas. To contact her at this agency please call 717-238-8118. Dr. Montagnese sits on the board of the Central Pennsylvania Institute of Mental Health and is one of the founding members. This agency serves to meet the needs for training and education of mental health providers as well as the lay public. She also has a private practice in Palmyra, Pennsylvania where she resides with her husband and children..

Due to monitoring guidelines, computer sharing is NOT permitted. Credit is given to one user per computer..

Educational Objectives:

• Identify the importance of long-term maintenance treatment for bipolar disorder and economic impact of poor therapy adherence on the healthcare system.
• Describe the lifestyle changes and pharmaceutical strategies (including the modes of action, efficacy, and contraindications of currently available therapies) available for managing bipolar disorder.
• Review the pharmacist’s role in counseling patients on the lifestyle changes, drug treatment strategies and medication adherence to improve the quality of life and long-term maintenance of bipolar patients.

Repeat Presentation:
This is the first presentation of this program.

Accreditation:
All presentations are ACPE approved.
Pharmacists 798-000-08-053-L01-P
Pharmacy Technicians 798-000-08-053-L01-T
PharmCon is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education.

Refund Policy:
“PharmCon provides full refunds of paid amounts if cancellations are made more than 24 hours prior to the scheduled time of the event and the request is submitted by email to: admin@pharmcon.com. Cancellations after that time will forfeit their registration fees.

Financial Support Provided By: Pfizer
PharmCon, Inc has provided partial financial support.

Target Audience:
Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians, Nurses, Nurse Practitioners

Program Overview:
Neuropathic pain afflicts an estimated 4 million people in the United States. The condition originates from an injury to either the peripheral or central nervous system (CNS) or to both and develops into a chronic disorder. Examples of neuropathic pain syndrome include diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), phantom limb pain, HIV sensory neuropathy, post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN), central post-stroke pain, low back and neck pain with a neuropathic origin, complex regional pain syndrome, and multiple sclerosis pain.

This program will educate healthcare professionals on PHN pain treatment principles and current guidelines for use of pain medications so they can more comfortably respond to pain patients in their roles as pharmacists, techs, and nurses. The program includes information on pharmacologic treatments, patient counseling, and a question/ answer period.

The instructor for this program is Lynn McPherson.

Computer sharing is not permitted due to monitoring guidelines. Credit is given to one user per computer.

Educational Objectives:

• Describe the epidemiology and pathophysiology of post-herpetic neuralgia.
• Describe the pharmacological treatments for PHN to include comparative efficacy, pharmacokinetics and contraindications of agents used for the management of PHN.
• State the role of the pharmacist in providing medication therapy management services to patients with PHN.

Accreditation:
Pharmacists 798-000-08-048-L01-P
Pharmacy Technicians 798-000-08-042-L01-T
Nurses N-071708-322-L01

PharmCon is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education.


Nursing Continuing Education
CNA/ANCC
This educational activity for 0.8 contact hours is provided by PharmCon, an approved provider of continuing education by the Maryland Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.

California Board of Registered Nursing
PharmCon is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number 13649 for 1.0 contact hours.

Refund Policy:
There is no fee for this educational activity.

Financial Support Provided By:
This webcast has been supported by an educational grant from Endo Pharmaceuticals.

Target Audience:
Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians, Nurses, Physicians

Program Overview:
In the battle of man vs. bacteria, a new enemy has emerged as the most feared “superbug” of 2008. Forget West Nile and bird flu – Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) is suddenly all over the media. This well deserved media spotlight highlights the increasing danger associated with MRSA infections. This program will review the most recent guidelines for the diagnosis and management of pneumonia and skin and skin-structure infections caused by MRSA. The program includes information on pharmacological treatments, patient counseling, and a question/ answer period.

About the speaker: Michael Barton, MD has served as the chairman of the Infection Control Committee at a community hospital in Pittsburgh for the past 2 years. While continuing to care for patients in the emergency department, he has developed a fascination for community-associated MRSA and a growing concern over the rapid spread of this "superbug". Dr. Barton is a graduate of The Pennsylvania State University with a B.S. in Biology and earned his medical degree at Temple University School of Medicine. His post-graduate training was in Emergency Medicine at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh.

Educational Objectives:

• Identify the epidemiology and differences between CA-MRSA and HA-MRSA, including virulence factors and antibiotic susceptibilities.
• Outline the virulence mechanism of methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus.
• Explain the modes of action, efficacy, and advantages and disadvantages of currently available pharmacological therapies for both HA-MRSA and CA-MRSA.
• Review the conventional actions necessary to prevent MRSA infections in both the clinical and community settings.

Repeat Presentation:
This presentation was also given on 7/09/08.

Accreditation:
Pharmacists 798-000-08-049-L01-P
Technicians 798-000-08-049-L01-T
Nurses N-081308-314-L01

PharmCon is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education.


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 the National Association of Managed Care Physicians (NAMCP) and PharmCon. NAMCP is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians. NAMCP designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.0 credit hours in Category I credits toward the AMA Physician’s Recognition Award. Each physician should only claim those credits that he/she actually spent in the activity.

Nursing Continuing Education
CNA/ANCC
This educational activity for 0.8 contact hours is provided by PharmCon Inc, an approved provider of continuing education by the Maryland Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.

Refund Policy:
“PharmCon provides full refunds of paid amounts if cancellations are made more than 24 hours prior to the scheduled time of the event and the request is submitted by email to: admin@pharmcon.com. Cancellations after that time will forfeit their registration fees."

Financial Support Provided By:
This webcast has been supported by an educational grant from Pfizer Pharmaceuticals.