Online Activities

Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency: State of the Art

Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (AATD) is a genetic disorder in which the vast majority of patients are unidentified or misdiagnosed, and experience significant delays in diagnosis. This is a pertinent and...

The Nuts and Bolts of Implementing the Expanded Role of the RN in Primary Care

Many organizations are on the journey to implement and enhance the roles of the PC RN. This journey is filled with both barriers and facilitators. There is a lack of understanding of other roles on the care...

Leveraging Physician Extenders in the Infusion Center

The number one underlying reason for ED visits in the US is cancer.  Presenting to the ED results in hospital admission about 70% of the time for cancer patients. Leveraging physician extenders...

Palliative Cancer Care: What Are You Waiting For?

Palliative care is the medical subspecialty focused on providing relief from the symptoms, pain, and stress of serious illness. Palliative care services include focused management of symptoms, pain and...

Optimizing Genetic Counselor Access in Oncology Care

Genetics is a continually growing and evolving field in oncology care and across healthcare. Genetic counselors are scarce in many communities and community hospitals throughout the United States and within...

Maintaining CoC Accreditation Amidst COVID-19

The Commission on Cancer is delivering on their commitment to quality cancer care by enhancing new programs, products and services and responding to changes in work resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. The...

Caring for Transgender Patients

To maintain regulatory compliance, it is important for covered entities to understand guidelines from Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, as well as documented disparities specifically related to the...

Mental Health in Cancer Care

In 2020 the National Cancer Institute identified that people who have cancer and a mental health diagnosis live longer if they receive mental health treatment. Better outcomes are related to the...

The COVID-19 Recession: How the Pandemic Has Affected Kentucky’s Economy

The pandemic has taken a significant toll on Kentucky’s economy. All major sectors reported employment declines as businesses reduced operations to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. While Kentucky...

Qualitative and Quantitative Measures Associated with Community Hospitals Participating in the Markey Cancer Center Affiliate Network

The majority of cancer patients in the USA are treated at community hospitals (Petrelli NJ, 2010). This percentage is very likely even higher for common malignancies such as breast or colon cancer that can be...

The Changing Healthcare Landscape

Throughout history, health care policy has determined how care is provided to patients in the United States. In an ever-changing world, it is important to understand the trends in policy as well as how it is...

Community Engagement to Implement a Lung Cancer Screening Education Program in Western Kentucky

Lung cancer (LC) is the deadliest cancer worldwide. In the U.S, Kentucky has the highest LC mortality disproportionately affecting racial/ethnic/minority/rural populations. Low dose computed tomography (LDCT)...

The Effect of Pandemics on Cancer Patients: Ethical Issues

Oncologists are currently dealing with an unprecedented clinical context due to the novel coronavirus and COVID-19 because in 1918 -- the last time there was a similar global pandemic affecting American...

Taking ACTION to Train the Next Generation of Cancer Professionals from Appalachian Kentucky

Kentucky has the highest cancer incidence and mortality rates in the US with the greatest burden of the disease occurring in the Appalachian region of the state. As an example of the cancer disparities in this...

HPV - Value of Champions in a Healthcare System

More than 80% of the US population will be infected with the human papilloma virus (HPV) at some point in their life. The majority of cervical cancers are caused by an HPV infection. Both screening with...

Telehealth – the New Normal in Healthcare

In March, 2020, most health systems were forced to stop performing elective medical procedures and patients were reluctant to come to a medical center for outpatient clinic visits, fearing they would be...

Don’t Get Lost in the Data Weeds

Too often, when healthcare public relations employees knock on the door of another department director, they are met with hesitation as to what they are about to be asked. Public relations employees are...

Thoracic Oncology Business Model – Saving Lives & Driving Value

Lung cancer is one of the most common types of cancer along with high mortality rate. One of these reasons is because typically patients are diagnosed with late stage cancer. By having a comprehensive early...

The Changing Landscape of Oncology Navigation

Patient navigation has continued to evolve and transform along with the changing healthcare environment since its inception. Dr Freeman’s use of patient navigators to educate on the value of early...

Closing The Gaps In Stroke Systems Of Care: The North Carolina Experience In The Post-Acute Realm

According to the Implications for the Organization of Stroke Systems of Care in North America published in 2015.“Stroke systems of care must change to increase timely and equitable access to...

Reading the Tea Leaves: Vital Radiographic Findings in Stroke

According to the 2010 publication The Future of Stroke Imaging: What We Need and How to Get to it“Advanced stroke imaging has made significant progress in the last 5 years. However, additional efforts...

TIME=BRAIN: CALL 911, Optimizing Stroke Patient Outcomes

According to the 2007 publication Implementation Strategies for Emergency Medical Services within Stroke Systems of Care “The effective integration of EMS for stroke involves complex...

Is it a Stroke?

According to the Missed Ischemic Stroke Diagnosis in the Emergency Department by Emergency Medicine and Neurology Services published in 2016. “The failure to recognize an ischemic stroke in the...

Right Plase, at the Right Time

This presentation will increase the knowledge of using thrombolytics to treat acute ischemic stroke. Discuss differences between Alteplase and Tenecteplase. Create a better understanding of the 2019 Update to...

Hold Up! What’s the Work Up?

This presentation will increase the knowledge of what is required as part of the acute ischemic stroke work up. Discuss the stroke work up and how it relates to increased patient outcomes and decreases...

Stroke Rehabilitation: A Practical Approach to Stroke Recovery

According to the Principles of experience-dependent neural plasticity: implications for rehabilitation after brain damage published in 2008. “Neural plasticity is believed to be the basis for...

Secondary Prevention

According to the 2014 publication, Guidelines for the prevention of stroke in patients with stroke and transient ischemic attack: a guideline for healthcare professionals from the American Heart...

Do You Know What You Don’t Know?

According to the 2010 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care. “Nearly 15 years of increased stroke education and organization has...

Medication Reconciliation: Process Overview and Reference Tool

Pharmacy technician-driven medication reconciliation has been shown to improve medication discrepancy identification and resolution in health systems. However, institutional medication history training for...

Module 2: Urinalysis: Dipstick Testing in the Pharmacy

This module demonstrates how to perform a CLIA-waived-point-of-care urine dipstick test in the outpatient pharmacy and discusses how to interpret the results of a urine dipstick test. Regulatory requirements...

Module 3: Implementing Pharmacist Protocol Care for UTIs: Case-based Review

In this module, pharmacists will have the opportunity to test their knowledge and apply the Kentucky Board of Pharmacy protocol for acute, uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) in adult females (v2) to...

Module 4: Antibiotic Stewardship in the Community Setting

This module discusses the importance of antimicrobial stewardship in the community setting and the important role pharmacists can play to minimize inappropriate antibiotic use. Examples of innovative...

Portal Hypertension

Gastroenterology is a new specialty that has been re-introduced to Ephraim McDowell Health. As a result, patients with specific GI-issues are now more frequently cared for in the Regional Medical Center. Staff...

Prediabetes and Metabolic Risk Factors

Prediabetes affects 1 in 3 adults in the US population and the majority of patients impacted by the disease do not even know they have this condition. Even if patients are not aware of their diagnosis it can...

Glucose Lowering Medications and CVD Risk (SGLT2 Inhibitors, GLP Receptor Agonists)

Medications used to treat diabetes have rapidly increasing emergent evidence about their impact on cardiovascular risk and heart failure. The recommendations and FDA approved indications for these therapies...

Antiplatelet Therapy and CVD Risk Reduction

Recent studies have more clearly defined the risks and benefits of aspirin for primary prevention of CVD in diabetic patients necessitating review. This video addresses the risk and benefits. 

Heart Healthy Dietary Patterns for Diabetes

Diabetes is a major cardivascular risk factor, with lifestyle management forming the cornerstone of prevention and management

AADE7 Self-Care Behaviors

Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES), delivered by an interdisciplinary team with specialized training, is an essential component of diabetes medical treatment. DSMES improves A1C, reduces...

Children/Adolescents with Diabetes and Heart Health

A diagnosis of pre- diabetes is often delayed or entirely missed in the pediatric population. An early diagnosis of pre-diabetes allows for early intervention, varied options for management and improved...

Women with Diabetes and Heart Health

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of morbidity/mortality in type 2 DM. 

Seniors with Prediabetes and Heart Health

Prediabetes affect 1 in 2 older adults. Proactive care of older adults with prediabetes can effectively reduce their risk of type 2 diabetes. This educational panel discussion shares tools from a...

At the Heart of Telehealth: Extending the Reach of Diabetes Care and Education

Telehealth has been shown to be a very effective method for delivery of diabetes care and education in various geographic areas with patients across the lifespan. The authors...

Quality Improvement in Public Health: A Focus for Local Boards of Health

Physicians do not receive adequate public health training during their formal medical education to prepare them to serve on local boards of health. They under-utilize or are not aware of many of the resources...

WHY ADVOCACY? WHY ME?: Make your Voice Count!

Physicians do not receive adequate public health training during their formal medical education to prepare them to serve on local boards of health. They under-utilize or are not aware of many of the resources...

Public Health 101: A Guide for Physician Public Health Board Members

Physicians do not receive adequate public health training during their formal medical education to prepare them to serve on local boards of health. They under-utilize or are not aware of many of the resources...

The Role of the Ambulatory Care Pharmacist in the Management of COPD and Transition of Care in a Community Hospital

COPD is the 3rd leading cause of death in the US. $50 billion was spent in 2010 - 70% attributed to exacerbations. Each COPD admission/readmission costs approximately $8,400-$11,100. Barriers to quality...

COPD Guidelines

The GOLD workgroup released updated treatment guidelines for COPD in the spring of 2019. In order to provide Kentuckians with optimal COPD treatment outcomes, practitioners across the state should be able to...

Lung Cancer Patient Navigation

Patients in Appalachia face unique barriers to accessing and navigating complex health care delivery systems due to distance from care and life circumstances. There is a shortage of trained patient...

Mabry Syndrome

Mabry Syndrome is a condition characterized by intellectual disability, distinctive facial features, increased serum levels of the enzyme called alkaline phosphatase and other signs and symptoms. People with...

Gabapentin: Possible Misuse Leads to Scheduling in Kentucky

Concerns about abuse and diversion of gabapentin have been raised in many states, with some states considering listing gabapentin as a “drug of concern,” reportable to their prescription drug...

Policy Solutions to the Opioid Crisis: What Have We Learned?

Opioid use disorder is an ongoing epidemic and states are enacting a range of policies to address the crisis. Health care providers need to understand how the policies impact practice and patient outcomes.

Podcast 2: Creating the Pain Treatment Plan

Older adults experience a higher incidence of persistent pain across chronic disease trajectories and at end-of-life. Data obtained from the NHANES survey indicates that older adults are almost twice as likely...

Podcast 3: Managing Older Patients on Opioid Analgesics

Older adults experience a higher incidence of persistent pain across chronic disease trajectories and at end-of-life. Data obtained from the NHANES survey indicates that older adults are almost twice as likely...

Podcast 4: Addiction Medicine: A Primer

Older adults experience a higher incidence of persistent pain across chronic disease trajectories and at end-of-life. Data obtained from the NHANES survey indicates that older adults are almost twice as likely...

Module Two: The Biopsychosocial Aspects of Chronic Pain

The geographic variation throughout Appalachia is poorly understood, creating a tremendous need for regionally sensitive collaborative efforts in professional continuing education with an emphasis on...

Module Three: Risk Management

The geographic variation throughout Appalachia is poorly understood, creating a tremendous need for regionally sensitive collaborative efforts in professional continuing education with an emphasis on...

Module Four: Chronic Pain History and Shared Decision Making Approaches

The geographic variation throughout Appalachia is poorly understood, creating a tremendous need for regionally sensitive collaborative efforts in professional continuing education with an emphasis on...

Module Six: Approaches and Tools in Managing Patients on Controlled Medications

The geographic variation throughout Appalachia is poorly understood, creating a tremendous need for regionally sensitive collaborative efforts in professional continuing education with an emphasis on...

Module Seven: Practice Enhancement in Managing Patients with Chronic Pain Through a Team-based Approach

The geographic variation throughout Appalachia is poorly understood, creating a tremendous need for regionally sensitive collaborative efforts in professional continuing education with an emphasis on...

Module Eight: General Drug Information on Opioid Therapy

The geographic variation throughout Appalachia is poorly understood, creating a tremendous need for regionally sensitive collaborative efforts in professional continuing education with an emphasis on...

Module Five: Examination and Diagnostic Testing in Patients with Chronic Pain

The geographic variation throughout Appalachia is poorly understood, creating a tremendous need for regionally sensitive collaborative efforts in professional continuing education with an emphasis on...

Medication Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder: The Evidence Base and Common Pitfalls and Myths

Medication treatment for Opioid Use Disorder remains poorly understood such that few affected individuals ever receive these effective FDA-approved medications.

Providers need to know how treatment...

Substance Use Disorders in Your Medical Practice: Treatment and Referral Updates

Because of inadequate provision of addiction treatment in physician practices and referrals to appropriate specialty care, health care professionals need education on the nature of addiction as a chronic brain...

The Opioid Crisis

Addiction to prescription opioids and heroin has become a national emergency. This module provides clinicians with a description of the epidemic and its effective treatments.

This activity...

Screening/Testing for HCV

The USPSTF recommends screening for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in persons at high risk for infection. The USPSTF also recommends offering 1-time screening for HCV infection to adults born between 1945...

Post-HCV Treatment Follow-up and Reinfection

Virologic cure of hepatitis C does not mean a cure of advanced liver disease. Ongoing evaluation and management of liver disease is indicated for cirrhotic patients after achieving SVR. Non-hepatologist HCV...

Hep C: Issues in PWID

Hepatitis C treatment is often withheld from PWID due to concerns regarding adherence, perceived lack of efficacy, and perceived risk of reinfection. PWID are a difficult to reach population leading to...

HCV Screening and Linkage to Care: The Norton Experience

Current CDC guidelines recommend universal screening of patients born between 1945 and 1965 as well as other patients based on risk.

All eligible patients are not being screened and patients with...

Heroin And Fentanyl: Lab Perspective

Drug overdose is a huge problem facing the health care system in Kentucky. Drug overdose deaths are acute poisoning deaths due to prescription or illicit drugs. According to data from the National Center for...

Ready Set Test! Expanding Pharmacy Services with Point-of-Care Testing

Only 5-15% of adults with acute pharyngitis—a sore throat—test positive for group A Streptococcus (GAS), yet up to 75% are prescribed antibiotics. The majority of acute...

Antibiotic Stewardship in the Community Setting

Only 5-15% of adults with acute pharyngitis—a sore throat—test positive for group A Streptococcus (GAS), yet up to 75% are prescribed antibiotics. The majority of acute...

Acute Group A Streptococcal Pharyngitis: Assessment and Guideline Recommended Treatments

Only 5-15% of adults with acute pharyngitis—a sore throat—test positive for group A Streptococcus (GAS), yet up to 75% are prescribed antibiotics. The majority of acute...

Navigating Patients through Cancer Screening and Diagnostic Testing

Screening is a procedure that takes place before the patient has symptoms or shows any sign of disease. Some screening exams can be uncomfortable, and just the idea of being tested can cause anxiety in a...

Community Needs Assessment for Cancer Navigators

Communities are typically defined by a geographic area; however, they can also be based on shared interests or characteristics such as religion, race, age, or occupation
People within a community come...

Process of Navigation

Patient navigators guide patients through cancer care, which is often very complicated. The navigator guides the patient using a process, based on a community needs assessment that improves the patient...

Financial Issues in Cancer Navigation for Appalachia

Patients in Appalachia face unique barriers to accessing and navigating complex health care delivery systems due to distance from care and life circumstances. There is a shortage of trained patient...

Communication in Patient Navigation in Appalachia

The goal of this module is to provide you with the information on how to improve your personal communication skills in the performance of patient navigation in Appalachia. We will talk about enhancing...

Culturally Effective Patient Navigation in Appalachia

Health professionals and others providing care and support to the Appalachian population need to have knowledge and appreciation of the Appalachian culture.  Training is needed to increase awareness of...

Anti Xa Reversal / Adverse Effects and Dangers of Florquinolone use

Fluoroquinolones are one of the most commonly prescribed antibiotics for infections such as pneumonia and urinary tract infections, however, this drug class carries several serious warnings and adverse effects...

Antibiotic Stewardship: Regulations, Mandates, and Use of National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN)

Improved awareness of components of antimicrobial stewardship programs and knowledge of resources available to providers and facilities to meet mandates and conform to regulations & Education on...

Evidence-Based Practice Guidelines and Strategies for Implementing Antibiotic Stewardship Programs in Healthcare Settings

Culture stewardship is a pivotal component to appropriate diagnosis and treatment plans. A multidisciplanary approach and staying adept on the newest literature available is essential for optimal patient...

Interprofessional Collaboration – Why is it Important?

Antibiotic stewardship has primarily involved the physician and pharmacist; however, the overuse and misuse of antibiotics requires interprofessional collaboration and teamwork that includes physician,...

Bugonomics: Cost of Unnecessary Antibiotic Use

Inappropriate and over use of antibiotics lead to antimicrobial resistance, which is a public health threat. 

Diagnostic Stewardship: A Key to Decreasing Unnecessary Antimicrobial Use

Unnecessary testing can lead to unnecessary treatments. Improving testing of infectious disease syndromes can be a powerful tactic to improve the use of antibiotics.

The Overlooked and Often Underutilized Role of Nurses in Building Success Antibiotic Stewardship Programs

Antimicrobial resistance is a global, national, statewide, and facility-wide crisis. Patients with multi-drug resistant infections will continue to require expert nursing care in the hospital, long-term care...

Infectious Disease Management: Pneumonia and Bacteremia

Appropriate antibiotic selection and duration of therapy is an evolving concept as resistance patterns shift and new evidence regarding appropriate duration of therapy emerges. We would like to have...

High Intensity Euglycemia Therapy for Calcium Channel Blocker Toxicity

The implementation of a new high dose insulin protocol for calcium channel blocker and beta blocker overdose is needed as this will be a new therapy modality at our institution. Our goal is to increase...

PEEER Model

Health care professionals are trained to communicate within their own profession, but not among multiple professions.  Although there is an emerging understanding of, and training for, interprofessional...

Tips for Prescribing/Dispensing Controlled Substances Within the Law

Drug overdose is a huge problem facing the health care system in Kentucky. Drug overdose deaths are acute poisoning deaths due to prescription or illicit drugs. According to data from the National Center for...

Reducing Stigma: The Past, Present and Future of Recovery

Drug overdose is a huge problem facing the health care system in Kentucky. Drug overdose deaths are acute poisoning deaths due to prescription or illicit drugs. According to data from the National Center for...

End Stage Dementia and End-of-Life Care

Therapeutic Use of KASPER and Urine Drug Screening and Testing in Clinical Practice

Non-AD Dementias: Dementia with Lewy Bodies, Frontotemporal Dementia and Vascular Dementia, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Research Advances