CME Outfitters Announces New Clinical Challenges CE Audioconference Series: "Improving the Odds in the Battle Against Alcohol Dependence" Premieres Thurs Oct. 6, 2005

Rockville, MD (PRWEB) September 27, 2005

CME Outfitters, LLC, nationally accredited provider of multidisciplinary medical education programming and related healthcare communications services, is pleased to announce an upcoming live and interactive evidence-based psychCME TALK series titled "CLINICAL CHALLENGES SERIES: Improving the Odds in the Battle Against Alcohol Dependence."

Offered as a series of 12 live and interactive audioconferences premiering Thursday, October 6, from 5:15–6:15 p.m. ET, the activity will focus on helping clinicians identify alcohol dependence and offering pharmacological and psychosocial supports to patients who wish to work toward a goal of abstinence. This CE activity will be available as a podcast and archived telephone audioconference shortly after the audioconference premiere, and available as an archived webcast in November.

Participation in this activity is free, as is obtaining a CE certificate; however, registration is required. Three forms of registration are accepted:

Fax: View the activity details page at http://www.psychCME.net/cmea.asp?ID=158, print and complete the activity details form, and fax to 240.243.1033

Online: Visit the psychCME TV page at http://www.psychCME.net
Phone: Call 877.CME.PROS (877.263.7767)

Statement of Need:

The prevalence of alcohol abuse/dependence is among the top three psychiatric disorders in the United States. It is estimated that 1 in 13 Americans battles this condition, which ranks as the 4th leading cause of disability in this country. The costs to society are enormous, and include detrimental effects on productivity and safety, mounting public and private expenditures for treatment services, and diminished quality of life for sufferers, families, and friends. Chronic alcohol dependence increases risk for cardiovascular disease, liver disease, cancer, depression, and anxiety disorders. Psychosocial intervention has been the mainstay treatment for helping patients maintain abstinence following detoxification. Adjunctive pharmacotherapy may enhance the efficacy of psychosocial rehabilitation. In this evidence-based psychCME TALK audioconference series, the experts will explore the chronic battle of alcohol dependence and propose strategies for improving patient outcomes.

Faculty:

Robert Swift, MD, PhD

Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior

Brown University Medical School

Associate Chief of Staff for Research

Providence VA Medical Center

Providence, RI

Charles P. O’Brien, MD, PhD

Kenneth Appel Professor

Vice Chair of Psychiatry

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this CE activity, participants should be able to:

• Identify the etiology of alcohol dependence and the psychiatric and medical comorbidities associated with the disease.
• Implement screening tools to uncover alcohol dependence.
• Examine the role of adjunctive pharmacotherapy for maintaining abstinence in patients receiving psychosocial treatment for alcohol dependence.

Target Audience:

Physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, psychologists, social workers, certified case managers, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals with an interest in mental health.

Commercial Support:

CME Outfitters, LLC, gratefully acknowledges an educational grant from Forest Laboratories, Inc., in support of this CE activity.

Credit Information:

CME Credit (Physicians):

CME Outfitters, LLC, is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. CME Outfitters, LLC, designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.0 category 1 credits toward the AMA Physician's Recognition Award. Each physician should claim only those credits that he/she actually spent in the activity.

Note to Physician Assistants: AAPA accepts Category I credit from AOACCME, Prescribed credit from AAFP, and AMA Category I CME credit for the PRA from organizations accredited by ACCME.

CNE Credit (Nurses):

This Educational Activity is presented by CME Outfitters, LLC, which has been approved as a provider of continuing education by the New York State Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation. It has been assigned code 5UYSJZ-PRV-0476. 1.2 contact hours (Pharmacology)

CEP Credit (Psychologists):

CME Outfitters, LLC, is approved by the American Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. CME Outfitters, LLC, maintains responsibility for the program. 1.0 CE credits

NASW Credit (Social Workers):

This program was approved by the National Association of Social Workers (provider #886407722) for 1 continuing education contact hour.

CCMC Credit (Certified Case Managers):

This program has been approved for 1 hour by the Commission for Case Manager Certification (CCMC).

CPE Credit (Pharmacists):

CME Outfitters, LLC, is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. 1.0 contact hours (0.1 CEUs)

Universal Program Number: 376-999-05-031-L01 (live interactive session) 376-999-05-031-H01 (recorded activities)

To receive credit, participants must review all activity materials in their entirety, score 70% or above on a post-test, and fully complete and return both the credit request form and activity evaluation. A certificate or statement of credit will be mailed within 4-6 weeks to all who successfully complete these requirements.

About CME Outfitters:

CME Outfitters is a full service healthcare communications agency providing continuing education content development, production, marketing, accreditation, and project management services to the healthcare industry. Among its many collaborative ventures, CME Outfitters enjoys an exclusive role in producing, certifying, and supporting the popular psychCME series of educational activities originally developed at Duke University Medical Center. For more information on CME Outfitters, including a complete calendar of its free award-winning educational activities, please visit http://www.cmeoutfitters.com, or call 877.CME.PROS (877.263.7767).

To view all of CME Outfitters' recent press releases, visit http://www.cmeoutfitters.com and click on "CME Outfitters in the News" or visit http://www.prweb.com and search for "CME Outfitters."

CME Outfitters' weekly e-newsletter, psychCME EXTRA, is a convenient way to stay informed of all CME Outfitters news and information. To subscribe, visit http://www.cmeoutfitters.com and click on "Register for Updates."

Contact: Jessica Primanzon

CME Outfitters, LLC

240.243.1308 direct

240.243.1033 fax

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