Managing Atrial Fibrillation to Prevent Stroke A Virtual Grand Rounds Activity Accreditation: July 23, 2012 – June 30, 2013
	This program is free to participants. Estimated time to complete: 90 minutes

Program Overview
Atrial fibrillation (AFib) affects more than 2 million people in the U.S. and is a serious risk factor for stroke. Despite evidence-based guidelines for managing AFib and estimates that two-thirds of AFib-related strokes can be avoided, serious gaps continue to exist between clinical knowledge and practice, leaving patients at risk for disabling strokes.

The Managing Atrial Fibrillation to Prevent Stroke virtual grand rounds addresses AFib and how it is diagnosed and treated; reviews prevalence of stroke in AFib patients; discusses the use of appropriate tools to assess stroke risk; promotes the use of current guidelines‐based strategies for managing AFib for patients at different levels of stroke risk; shares strategies for discussing AFib and stroke risk more effectively with patients; and evaluates the emerging agents for stroke prevention in AFib.

Goals and Learning Objectives
The goal of the Managing Atrial Fibrillation to Prevent Stroke virtual grand rounds is to improve the diagnosis and treatment of AFib to prevent stroke by educating participants on the most current treatment guidelines and clinical research. Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:

• Recognize the signs and symptoms of AFib, such as abnormal rhythm, rate and/or near syncope as described by the patient or caregiver using nonmedical vernacular.
• Select the appropriate diagnostic test(s) for the initial diagnosis of AFib to determine underlying causes and severity of AFib and to monitor improvement after AFib treatment.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the AFib guidelines with regard to stroke risk.
• Communicate essential information regarding AFib and stroke risk to the patient.
• Assess the risk of stroke in patients with AFib by correctly calculating a CHADS₂ risk score.
• Determine appropriate anticoagulation based upon the stroke risk calculation, clinical guidelines and new scientific evidence.
• Determine appropriate rhythm management and rate control strategies based upon clinical guidelines and new scientific evidence.
• Distinguish which AFib patients should be referred to a specialist.
• Manage patients who have undergone an ablation procedure.

Target Audience
The target audience for the Managing Atrial Fibrillation to Prevent Stroke virtual grand rounds includes primary care clinicians and cardiologists practicing in and near stroke center hospitals, as well as hospital-based physicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals treating AFib among at-risk populations.

Credit Designation
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 Heart Rhythm Society and National Stroke Association. The Heart Rhythm Society is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians and by the New York State Nurses Association to provide continuing education for nurses and nurse practitioners.

Continuing Medical Education (CME) for Physicians
The Heart Rhythm Society designates this educational activity for a maximum 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 credit(s)^TM. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Continuing Education (CE) for Nurses
The Heart Rhythm Society is an approved provider of continuing nursing education by the New York State Nurses Association, which is accredited as an approver of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission of Accreditation. It has been assigned code 7M7R3X-PRV-09-30.

A maximum of 1.0 credit hours is available for this educational activity.

Program Materials
The enduring webinar is designed for individual viewing. The post-assessment and evaluation are electronic and can only be completed by an individual after watching the program. There are no fees for participating in and receiving credit for this activity.

Between July 2012 through June 30, 2013, participants must 1) read the learning objectives and faculty disclosures; 2) study the educational activity; 3) complete the post-assessment; and 4) complete the evaluation form. If watching as a group, you must also 5) mail or fax the evaluation form and post-assessment to National Stroke Association. See below for instructions. Both the completed evaluation and post-assessment are required to receive appropriate credit. Allow 90 minutes to watch the program and complete the required materials. Statements of credit will be emailed within six weeks of the activity.

If you are watching the program as a group, please contact Valerie Siebert-Thomas to receive hard copies of the post-assessment and evaluation. Please note that, upon viewing, all materials must be returned to National Stroke Association within three business days of the viewing date.

Disclosure of Faculty’s Commercial Relationship(s)
It is the policy of the Heart Rhythm Society to ensure balance, independent objectivity and scientific rigor in all its certified educational activities. Everyone involved in the planning and participation of continuing medical education activities is required to disclose any real or apparent conflict of interest related to the content of their presentations and also disclose discussions of unlabeled/unapproved uses of drugs or devices during their presentations. In accordance with the ACCME's Standards for Commercial Support for continuing medical education, all faculty and planning partners must disclose any financial relationship(s) or other relationship(s) held within the past 12 months. The Heart Rhythm Society implements a mechanism to identify and resolve all conflicts of interest prior to delivering the educational activity to learners. Detailed disclosure information will be available prior to the activity and in the activity slides.

The original program was recorded on June 11, 2012.

This activity is supported by educational grants from the following companies:
Ortho-McNeil, Division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., administered by Ortho-McNeil Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC and Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pfizer, Inc.