Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Certification Series

80% of adults over the age of 65 have multiple chronic conditions. This can be a difficult patient population to work with considering these patients see an average of 13 different physicians each year and have an average of 50 different prescriptions filled each year. Due to the complexity of this patient population, obtaining progressions through a therapy program can be a very daunting task. These four courses, together spanning 20 hours, approach effective assessment, treatment for patients with diabetes, hypertension, heart failure, and COPD. Pharmacologic considerations, chronic pain, and recommended exercise guidelines will be reviewed.

What this certification series will address:

Participants will be able to obtain comprehensive information on the pathophysiology of some frequently encountered chronic diseases and how they may affect a patient's ability to respond to therapy treatment, including special tests to perform with these populations that will help guide therapy treatment. Also covered will be the most common medications that these groups of patients might be taking, medications that should be avoided in this population, and how to recognize possible adverse effects of these medications. Participants will discuss vital sign parameters and treatment precautions and how to use this information to guide your clinical decision making and when it is appropriate to continue therapy treatment or when therapy treatment should be held.