Similar to Gen. George Washington’s arrival in Valley Forge, PAFP members and other family physicians were welcomed in Valley Forge with a light snow for this year’s first CME conference. The three-day weekend event offered clinical education activities and networking opportunities for all to enjoy. The conference, which lasted Friday, March 19 through Sunday, March 22, provided participants with the opportunity to earn over 19 prescribed credits, 13 of which qualified as patient safety.
In addition to the weekend’s special activities associated with the PAFP inauguration and installation of new officers, the Valley Forge CME Conference welcomed guests from Delaware, Ohio, Michigan, and the New York chapters of the American Academy of Family Physicians. With special guests, faculty members, staff, and attendees, key messages were spread across Twitter and Facebook. Below is a sample of featured tweets and other lecture notes from the weekend. Remember to visit the PAFP’s Facebook page to view pictures from the conference.
TOPICS: Insulin Therapy Management | Hepatitis C: What's the Buzz About? | Vaccine Potpourri | Primary and Secondary Prevention of ASCVD
INSULIN THERAPY MANAGEMENT
It appears that hypoglycemia is a marker for increased mortality. It has led to walking away from a target A1c from 6.5 to 7.
You can use basal insulin as a second-line agent for some patients with #diabetes after Meformin.
Approximately 8 percent of American have diagnosed #diabetes, 4 percent have undiagnosed diabetes; 1/3 of population have pre-diabetes
There are now five approved GLP-1 agonists: exenatide, liraglutide, lixisenatide, albiglutide, dulaglutide.
HEPATITIS C: WHAT'S THE BUZZ ABOUT?
To reduce #HepatitisC progression: avoid alcohol, diet to reduce insulin resistance, avoid hepatoxic drugs.
HCV affects 185 million worldwide, nearly 4 million of whom live in the U.S.
One time screening recommended for patients born between 1945 and 1965 (Baby Boomers).
To reduce transmission: don’t share needles, razors, or toothbrushes. #HepC can stick around for up to 4 days.
VACCINE POTPOURRI
Regular #vaccine schedule for meningitis ACWY: first does, age 11-12; booster age 16-18.
Five to ten percent of people have meningococcal bacteria "just hanging out?" in nasopharynx with no symptoms.
Why two different #vaccines for pneumonia? Part of reason: pneumococcus causes more than just #pneumonia
Why #HPV #vaccinate pre-teens? Antibody response, scheduling works well with #meningococcal &Tdap #vaccines
PRIMARY AND SECONDARY PREVENTION OF ASCVD
Why #HPV #vaccinate pre-teens? Antibody response, scheduling works well with #meningococcal &Tdap #vaccines
Coronary atherosclerosis starts early – in the 20s and 30s!
A comprehensive strategy to decrease cardiovascular morbidity and mortality should include primarily a cardio protective diet.
Mortality statistics: Nearly 38 percent of #ACS patients die within one year of a recognized heart attack.
Diabetes considered a #CHD equivalent: lipid targets for those with diabetes are the same as those people with established #CHD.
