Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy (OPAT)
Jointly sponsored by Center for Independent Healthcare Education and Vemco MedEd
Supported by educational grants from Astellas Pharma Global Development, Inc. and Cubist Pharmaceuticals

Internet Point of Care is a structured, self-directed, online learning by physicians and other healthcare professionals relevant to their clinical practice. It is a reflective process in which participants document their clinical question, the sources they consulted, the answers they found, and how they applied these answers to their practice. System requirements are simply an internet connection.

To Obtain Credit

The objectives of Internet Point of Care credit are to:

  • Ask a clinical question
  • List resource(s) consulted
  • Report if the information researched applied to your practice or patient care

Receive Internet Point of Care credit now by completing the form and evaluation in its entirety.

Overview

Serious bacterial infections place a heavy burden on healthcare systems that are already struggling to reduce costs while maintaining patient quality of care. In addition to the clinical consequences, there is a significant economic cost, mainly attributable to prolonged hospital length of stay. In this scenario, OPAT has been proven to be a safe and effective strategy in specific situations.

When used appropriately, OPAT may allow for earlier hospital discharge and give patients greater flexibility to safely return to a community-based setting, thereby improving healthcare resource utilization. OPAT services patients of all ages with complicated and difficult-to-treat infections (cellulitis, complicated UTI, community-acquired pneumonia, endocarditis, bacteremia, wound, bone, and intra-abdominal infections) and often presenting with comorbid conditions. While these patients originate mainly from hospitals, OPAT can also be considered for patients from outpatient surgical centers, nursing homes, and physician offices.

Method of Participation

  • Record your clinical question.
  • Search for answers to your question using the recommended online resources.
  • Complete the Point of Care online CME application form (below).
  • Upon successful completion, a certificate is available to print.

There are no fees for participating in this CME activity.

Target Audience

OPAT Point of Care is designed to meet the educational needs of physicians, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals who provide care to patients with serious bacterial infections and may be eligible for OPAT.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to:

  • Identify a practice-based knowledge need
  • Summarize the evidence obtained in answering the identified clinical question
  • Describe how the findings obtained for the clinical question can be applied in clinical practice

Accreditation Information

Center for Independent Healthcare Education (Center) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for 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 joint sponsorship of Center for Independent Healthcare Education and Vemco MedEd.

Center for Independent Healthcare Education designates this Internet Point of Care activity for a maximum of 0.5 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditTM per clinical question. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Certificate of Participation will be issued to other healthcare professionals.

Disclosure

Employees of Center for Independent Healthcare Education and Vemco MedEd have no relevant financial relationships to disclose. Please be sure to read the disclosure of relevant financial statements provided with individual sources used to complete the activity.

Disclaimer

This educational activity may contain discussion of published and/or investigational uses and dosages for therapeutic products/procedures that have not been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Center for Independent Healthcare Education, Vemco MedEd, Astellas Pharma Global Development, Inc., and Cubist Pharmaceuticals do not recommend the use of any agent outside the labeled indications. Clinicians should verify all information and data before treating patients or employing any therapies described in this continuing education activity. Please refer to the prescribing information for each product/procedure for approved indication, contraindications, and warnings.

Hardware/Software Requirements

Internet Browser

Privacy Policy

http://www.jointsponsor.com/utilities/privacy.aspx

Contact Information

For questions regarding the accreditation of this activity, please contact Center for Independent Healthcare Education at info@jointsponsor.com


Begin OPAT Point of Care CME

Please complete all required sections (*)

Step 1. State Your Clinical Question/Purpose of Search

Describe the purpose or objective of your search. We recommend stating it as a question that includes the following four components: Patient or Problem, Intervention, Comparison and Outcome (PICO Model).

Example question: For patients with MRSA osteomyelitis, what is the optimal duration of antimicrobial treatment using OPAT?

Step 2. Search for Your Answers

Go to one or more of these sites approved by Center for Independent Healthcare Education and search for your answers.

Note that clicking the selected link will open a new window to search. Please return to this page to complete the form.

Relevant Educational CME/CE Programs

Step 3. Complete the OPAT Point of Care Application Form

List sources consulted and any strategies and/or search terms used for the sources consulted.

List relevant references identified and consulted (articles, guidelines, etc.) in your search. List citations (author, title, etc.) or copy the URL address.

Provide a brief summary of the answer to your question.

Describe how you plan to apply your findings into clinical practice (check all that apply).

Evaluation

Rate the extent to which you agree or disagree

(1 = strongly disagree; 5 = strongly agree) 1 2 3 4 5
I am satisfied with the overall quality of this activity.
Participation in this activity changed my knowledge/attitudes.
I will make a change in my practice based on participation in this activity.
The resources available in this activity were scientifically rigorous, unbiased, and balanced.
This activity met my learning objective.
The learning activity was clear, useful, and effective.

What barriers might prevent you from applying the knowledge and skills learned in this activity?

Please state any comments and/or suggestions.

Congratulations on successfully completing the OPAT Point of Care activity.

Please proceed to print your certificate.