Welcome and Announcements

4/9/2022 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM

Heart Failure Treatment Review: Optimizing Guideline-Directed Medical Therapies

4/9/2022 9:00 AM - 10:15 AM

Presenter: Gary Karagodsky, PharmD

Due to the emergence of new pharmacological therapies for the treatment of heart failure within the past decade, the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC) released an update to their 2017 ACC Expert Consensus Decision Pathway for Optimization of Heart Failure Treatment in January of 2021. These updates included significant modifications in the guideline-directed pharmacological management of heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction. The purpose of this presentation is to distill the recent alterations made to guideline directed medical therapy for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, review the evidence behind these guideline changes, and apply these recommendations into the treatment of heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction.

COVID in Kids: Vaccine Basics & Best Practices on Communicating Information with Families

4/9/2022 10:30 AM - 11:45 AM

Presenter: Jenny Bevacqua, RN, CPNP-AC/PC, AGACNP, CPEN

Inoculating children against COVID is essential to decrease their risk of disease burden and of the adults around them. This session will start by sharing the story of a critically ill child with COVID cared for by the presenter. We will discuss the basics of the Pfizer vaccine and delve into productive communication tactics with vaccine-hesitant caregivers, (NOTE: this will likely be fresh, surprising information to you!) as well as discuss disinformation, misinformation and cognitive biases. We will wrap up by listing strategies to improve vaccine rates as NPs.

Treating Anxiety in Primary Care

4/9/2022 10:30 AM - 11:45 AM

Presenter: Barbara Limandri, PhD, PMHCNS-BC

This presentation will focus on identifying the various manifestations of anxiety among adult, children, and adolescent clients who present in primary care. How the primary care nurse practitioner can methodically diagnose the condition and decide on an appropriate plan of care and/or referral to mental health specialist. Pharmacological treatment approaches for anxiety with an emphasis on non-benzodiazepines. Finally, this will include strategies for benzodiazepine withdrawal and evidence-based protocols.

A Pediatric Psychopharmacology Primer: Treating Anxiety, Depression, and ADHD in Children/Adolescents (Repeat)

4/9/2022 2:45 PM - 4:00 PM

Presenter: Patty Barfield, PhD, RN, PMHNP-BC

This talk is aimed at helping nurse practitioners develop a starting place for treating common mental health conditions that present in the primary care setting. I would use current treatment guidelines, evidence, and principles of best practice. It could be changed based on member needs.

Objectives: WHEN: Review current treatment guidelines & recommendations of when to initiate pharmacological interventions in children/adolescents with anxiety, depression, and ADHD. WHAT: Discuss the pharmacological treatment options available for treating children/adolescents with anxiety, depression, and ADHD. HOW: Apply best practice principles for optimal outcomes.

Yikes! Is This Borderline Personality Disorder? (repeat)

4/9/2022 2:45 PM - 4:00 PM

Presenter: Barbara Limandri, PhD, PMHCNS-BC

This presentation will discuss stigma related to borderline personality disorder, how the primary care nurse practitioner can objectively identify the challenges this client presents and ways to effectively manage care. Since there are no FDA approved medications for BPD, this will include off-label medication management. Finally, this presentation will include self-care approaches for providers to maintain compassionate and ethical treatment.