COURSE CREDITS & HOURS
16 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™16 ACPE Credits
16 ANCC Contact Hours
COURSE FEES
$1,195.00 for Physicians
$895.00 for Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants, Pharmacists
$695.00 for Nurses, Pharmacy Technicians
TARGET AUDIENCE
Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants, Pharmacists, Nurses, Pharmacy Technicians
PROGRAM TOPICS
Topics for Dr. Gauer:
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Heart Failure - 2 hours
- Define pathophysiologic mechanism of heart failure.
- Describe acute clinical signs and symptoms used to diagnose heart failure.
- Interpret diagnostic tests used in evaluation of heart failure, including natriuretic peptides, echocardiography, chest radiograph and ECG findings.
- Differentiate between heart failure preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF), based on current ACC/AHA and the ESC classifications.
- Identify guideline-directed medical therapies for heart failure including beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors/ARBs, ARNIs, MRAs and SGLT2 inhibitors.
- Outline indications for advanced therapies such as cardiac resynchronization therapy, implantable cardioverter-defibrillators, mechanical circulatory support and heart transplantation.
- Discuss common approaches to common complications associated with heart failure to include hypotension, worsening heart failure, and worsening kidney function.
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Syncope - 1 hour
- Define syncope and distinguish it from other causes of transient loss of consciousness.
- Describe the major pathophysiological categories of syncope, including reflex (neurally mediated), orthostatic, and cardiac causes.
- Identify high-risk features in the history, physical examination, and ECG that suggest a cardiac or life-threatening cause of syncope.
- Perform a focused evaluation of a patient presenting with syncope, including history-taking, orthostatic vital signs, and appropriate diagnostic testing.
- Interpret key diagnostic studies used in syncope evaluation, including ECG, prolonged electrocardiogram monitoring, echocardiogram, and tilt-table testing.
- Outline evidence-based management strategies for common syncope including vasovagal, orthostatic hypotension, and cardiac.
- Recognize red flags that warrant urgent evaluation.
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Palpitations - 1 hour
- Define palpitations and describe common patient-reported symptoms and descriptors.
- Identify common etiologies of palpitations, including cardiac, psychiatric, metabolic, and substance-related causes.
- Differentiate life-threatening causes of palpitations from benign etiologies using clinical features and initial diagnostic testing.
- Outline evidence-based diagnostic approach to patients presenting with palpitations, including history, physical examination, ECG, ambulatory monitoring, and laboratory testing.
- Interpret common arrhythmias associated with palpitations.
- Develop individualized management plans based on underlying etiology, symptom burden, and risk stratification.
- Recognize red flags that require urgent or emergent referral.
- Incorporate recent advances and guidelines into the clinical evaluation and long-term management of patients presenting with palpitations.
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2025 Update on Hypertension and Evaluation of Severely Elevated Blood Pressure - 1 hour
- Discuss hypertensive terminology to include severe asymptomatic hypertension and hypertensive emergency.
- Identify key clinical features and signs of target-organ damage including neurologic, cardiac, renal, and vascular manifestation.
- Recognize high-risk presentations such as hypertensive encephalopathy, acute aortic dissection, acute pulmonary edema, and acute renal failure.
- Interpret relevant diagnostic studies to confirm target-organ damage.
- Discuss appropriate intravenous antihypertensive agents based on the clinical scenario and comorbidities.
- Discuss appropriate management of severe asymptomatic hypertension in both the inpatient and outpatient setting.
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ECGs Not to Miss - 1 hour
- Apply a systematic approach to ECG interpretation that enhances diagnostic confidence.
- Recognize high-risk ECG findings associated with life-threatening cardiac conditions.
- Detect arrhythmias with significant clinical implications.
- Recognize conduction system abnormalities.
- Distinguish ECG findings caused by non-cardiac conditions.
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Atrial Fibrillation - 1 hour
- Describe the pathophysiology and epidemiology of atrial fibrillation (AF), including key risk factors and disease progression.
- Review the classifications of AF.
- Recognize the clinical presentation of AF.
- Discuss initial management of AF and selection of rate control agents.
- Differentiate rate versus rhythm control strategies and apply evidence-based indications for each.
- Interpret and apply risk stratification tools to guide anticoagulation decisions.
- Compare pharmacologic efficacy and safety profiles of available oral anticoagulants, including warfarin and direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs).
- Recognize and manage bleeding risk and complications associated with anticoagulation use.
- Evaluate perioperative and procedural anticoagulation management, including bridging strategies when necessary.
- Review of Top Influential Clinical Trials - 1 hour
Dr. Martin's Topics
- My Errors in Medicine Can Help You.
- Chief Complaint of Chest Pain, So Now How Do I Work It Up?
- A "Breathtaking Lecture," Asthma and COPD Updates.
- "Stop Coughing on Me!" Pneumonia and Bronchitis Updates.
- Does Patient Experience Matter?
- Is it ONLY a Skin and Soft Tissue Infection?
- "THIS is COVID Jeopardy!"
- Applying Leadership Literature to Medicine
COURSE OVERVIEW BY PROFESSION
This course is designed for physicians seeking to refine their diagnostic and management skills in primary care and cardiology. The curriculum addresses complex patient presentations, including the workup of chest pain, syncope, and palpitations, while providing critical updates on heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and hypertension. Sessions on applying leadership literature to medicine and learning from clinical errors offer valuable insights for enhancing your practice, improving team dynamics, and promoting a culture of patient safety. You will leave better equipped to handle both common and critical conditions with greater confidence.
Through this program, you will learn to apply guideline-directed medical therapies for heart failure, manage severely elevated blood pressure, and interpret high-risk ECGs not to be missed. This conference offers up to 16.00 *AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™* in a unique, distraction-free setting aboard a cruise, allowing for deep immersion in the material and valuable interaction with faculty and peers. This format ensures you can absorb and integrate the latest evidence to directly improve patient outcomes.
This program strengthens the nurse practitioner's role in managing a spectrum of acute and chronic conditions across primary and urgent care settings. The curriculum delivers practical, evidence-based updates on high-frequency presentations such as heart failure, atrial fibrillation, asthma, and COPD. You will enhance your diagnostic acumen for challenging complaints like chest pain, syncope, and palpitations. Sessions focusing on patient experience and leadership principles provide valuable tools for advancing your practice autonomy and contributing effectively to the healthcare team, ultimately leading to improved patient care and satisfaction.
Gain confidence in applying the 2025 hypertension guidelines, interpreting critical ECGs, and selecting appropriate therapies for common infections. This conference provides up to 16.00 contact hours, with credits accepted by the AANP. The unique conference-at-sea format provides an immersive educational experience, free from the demands of the clinic, allowing you to focus completely on acquiring new knowledge and skills to bring back to your patients.
This conference is tailored for physician assistants aiming to broaden their expertise in primary care, cardiology, and emergency medicine. The program focuses on enhancing your ability to evaluate, diagnose, and manage a wide range of patient presentations, from the initial workup of chest pain to updates on pneumonia and bronchitis. You will gain practical strategies for handling common but complex issues like heart failure, syncope, and atrial fibrillation. The inclusion of topics on medical leadership and clinical errors will strengthen your collaborative role within the healthcare team and contribute to better patient outcomes.
Specific learning objectives include interpreting high-risk ECGs, managing severely elevated blood pressure according to the latest evidence, and applying guideline-directed therapies for heart failure. Earn up to 16.00 AAPA Category 1 CME credits (accepted from organizations accredited by ACCME) in a focused learning environment. The cruise conference setting removes daily distractions, facilitating deeper engagement with the material and valuable networking with colleagues, ensuring you return to practice with updated and actionable knowledge.
This program offers pharmacists an essential update on the pharmacotherapy of prevalent cardiovascular and primary care conditions. Sessions provide a deep dive into guideline-directed medical therapies for heart failure, rate versus rhythm control in atrial fibrillation, and management of hypertensive emergencies. You will explore the evidence base behind treatment decisions through a review of influential clinical trials and updates on conditions like asthma and COPD. This knowledge strengthens your ability to perform medication reviews, provide clinical recommendations, and serve as an invaluable drug information resource for the healthcare team.
Participants will refine their ability to compare oral anticoagulants, select appropriate IV antihypertensive agents, and understand the role of SGLT2 inhibitors in heart failure. This knowledge-based program provides up to 16.00 ACPE credits for pharmacists. The unique conference-at-sea format fosters an immersive, interprofessional learning environment, allowing you to understand clinical decision-making from multiple perspectives and better support your patients and colleagues upon your return.
This conference empowers nurses with updated clinical knowledge to enhance patient assessment, monitoring, and advocacy in primary and acute care. The curriculum focuses on strengthening your ability to recognize and respond to high-risk cardiac and respiratory conditions, with sessions on heart failure, atrial fibrillation, syncope, and palpitations. You will gain confidence in identifying critical ECG findings and signs of target-organ damage in hypertensive crises. Discussions on patient experience and learning from medical errors directly support nursing's central role in patient safety and quality of care, improving your contribution to the interdisciplinary team.
By attending, you will be better prepared to understand the management of common infections, educate patients on complex medication regimens, and anticipate complications in cardiac patients. This program offers up to 16.00 ANCC contact hours. The unique cruise setting provides a focused, restorative environment for professional development, ensuring you can fully absorb the material and return to your practice with skills that directly translate to improved patient outcomes.
This program provides pharmacy technicians with a valuable opportunity to deepen their understanding of the clinical context behind the medications they handle daily. By learning about conditions like heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and hypertension, you will gain insight into why specific medications are prescribed and the critical importance of accuracy in dispensing. This knowledge enhances your ability to identify potential issues and act as a vital safeguard in the medication-use process. Understanding the clinical rationale behind therapies for common infections and cardiovascular emergencies empowers you to be a more effective and knowledgeable member of the pharmacy team.
This course will familiarize you with key drug classes discussed in clinical practice, such as DOACs, SGLT2 inhibitors, and various antihypertensives, reinforcing their significance in patient care. This activity is accredited for up to 16.00 ACPE credits for pharmacy technicians. The conference-at-sea format offers a unique educational setting, allowing you to learn alongside pharmacists and other healthcare professionals, providing a broader perspective on the impact of your work on patient safety and outcomes.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
PLEASE NOTE: To attend the conference, participants must book their cruise accommodations through Continuing Education, Inc. This ensures we can provide full conference services and complimentary social amenities to meeting participants and guests. Participants' family and friends are welcome to book within our group allotment to take advantage of our typically excellent rates. Thanks for your cooperation. We look forward to welcoming you aboard!
BIAS FREE CME - No Commercial Support was provided for this CME activity.
