INTRODUCTION

This module consists of 16 clinical cases that explore the complexity of dialysis access decision-making. Making appropriate treatment decisions depends on a number of patient factors. Equally important considerations include the dialysis access team’s skill sets, training, biases, institutional support and resources. Every dialysis patient comes with a wide variety of contingencies. The purpose of this module is to consider a series of case studies in which variables are presented and navigating to the best solution for the patient in any given situation. This module does not contain a pre-test or post-test. Please review the case studies and discussion points, complete the post-module evaluation, and proceed to print or download your CME certificate.

Target Audience

The activity has been designed to meet the educational needs of vascular surgeons, interventional radiologists, nephrologists, general surgeons and physicians who perform open and or interventional dialysis access procedures in patients in the United States and internationally.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES OF THIS MODULE 

• Make decisions while taking into account your team’s collective skill-set, patient factors, and resources.
• Recognize that attitudes and social intelligence may represent 80% of professional success.
• Appreciate cultural and socioeconomic influences on optimal decision-making.
• Comprehend the complexity of dialysis access decision-making.
• Understand the concept of patient-centered care in decision-making. 
• Consider when to seek outside advice.

Method of Participation

To obtain credit, complete the activity in full. Please proceed with the activity until you have reviewed module materials, completed the evaluation, and have received a digital copy of your CME certificate. You must participate in the entire activity to receive credit. If you have questions about this CME activity, please contact Complete Conference Management at cme@CCMCME.com.

Accreditation Statement

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of Complete Conference Management and Kidney Academy, Inc.

Complete Conference Management is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Physician Assistants

NCCPA accepts AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ from organizations accredited by ACCME.

Credit Designation

Complete Conference Management designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 3.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s) ™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

COMMERCIAL SUPPORT

This activity is supported by educational grants from the following companies: Bard / BD, W.L Gore, and Phillips.

CME Credit Hours Earned: 3.0 Hour(s)

Fee: $150

FACULTY

Ingemar Davidson, MD, PhD, FACS

Dr. Davidson has no relevant financial relationships reported.

Gerald Beathard, MD, PhD

Dr. Beathard has no relevant financial relationships reported.

Bart Dolmatch, MD, FSIR Dr. Dolmatch is a consultant and advisor to Bard, Humacyte, Bluegrass Vascular Tech, Merit Medical and Histosonics.

Nicholas Inston, MD, PhD

Dr. Inston has been an investigator for TVA and Humacyte and an educational consultant for Merit Medical, Gore and SynerMed. 

John Ross, MD Dr. Ross is a consultant for Bard Peripheral Vascular, WL Gore and Associates, LeMaitre Vascular Inc. and Boston Scientific.

SUPPORTING FACULTY

Diana J Adams, RHIA

Magdalena Biss-Mierzwińska, MD

Dr. Magdalena Biss-Mierzwińska has no relevant financial relationships reported.

Pierre Bourquelot, MD

Dr. Bourquelot has no relevant financial relationships reported.

Teresa Chuva, MD

Dr. Teresa Chuva has no relevant financial relationships reported.

Maurizio Gallieni, MD

Dr. Gallieni has no relevant financial relationships reported.

Paul Gibbs, MD

Dr Gibbs has no relevant financial relationships reported.

Ulf Hedin, MD

Dr. Hedin has no relevant financial relationships reported.

Jackie Pei Ho, MD

Dr Ho has no relevant financial relationships reported.

Jose Ibeas, MD, PhD

Dr. Ibeas has no relevant financial relationships reported.

Robert Jones, MD

Dr Jones has no relevant financial relationships reported.

Behrend Kahn, MD

Dr Kahn has no relevant financial relationships reported.

Behrend Ali Kahn, MD

Dr. Kahn has no relevant financial relationships reported.

Aurang Zaib Khawaja MD

Dr Khawaja has no relevant financial relationships reported

Hailei Li, MD, PhD

Dr. Li has no relevant financial relationships reported.

NC Liew, MD

Dr. Liew has no relevant financial relationships reported

Alexandro Mallios, MD

Dr. Mallios is a consultant and advisor to Avenu Medical

Linda Nuth, MD

Dr. Nuth has no relevant financial relationships reported

Kittipan Perkasem, MD

Dr. Perkasem has no relevant financial relationships reported

Ramon Roca Tey, MD, PhD Dr. Roca Tey has no relevant financial relationships reported.

Maarten G.J. Snoeijs, MD, PhD

Dr. Snoeijs has no relevant financial relationships reported.

Tobias Steinke, MD

Dr. Steinke is a consultant and advisor to Angiomed Karlsruhe GER, CR Bard Karlsruhe GER, TVA Medical Austin Texas USA.

Jan Swinnen, MD

Dr Swinnen has no relevant financial relationships reported.

Martina Tedesco, MS Dr. Tedesco has no relevant financial relationships reported.

STAFF / REVIEWERS

Tracey Fernandez, CMP

Ms. Fernandez has no relevant financial relationships reported.

Barbara O’Brien, MSN, BSN, RN   Ms. O’Brien has no relevant financial relationships reported.

Disclosure Policy Statement

In accordance with the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) Standards for Commercial Support, educational programs sponsored by Complete Conference Management must demonstrate balance, independence, objectivity and scientific rigor.  All faculty, authors, editors and planning committee members participating in a CCM-sponsored activity are required to disclose any relevant financial interest or other relationship with the manufacturer(s) of any commercial product(s) and/or provider(s) of commercial services that are discussed in an educational activity.

Disclosure of Unlabeled Use and Investigational Product

This educational activity may include discussion of uses of agents that are investigational and/or unapproved by the FDA. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.

Disclaimer

Complete Conference Management makes every effort to develop CME activities that are scientifically based. This activity is designed for educational purposes. Participants have a responsibility to utilize this information to enhance their professional development in an effort to improve patient outcomes. Conclusions drawn by the participants should be derived from careful consideration of all available scientific information. The participant should use his/her clinical judgment, knowledge, experience and diagnostic decision-making before applying any information, whether provided here or by others, for any professional use.

Required Hardware / Software

A computer with an internet connection. Internet Browser: Internet Explorer 7.x or higher, Firefox 4.x or higher, Safari 2.x or higher, or any other W3C standards compliant browser. Other additional software may be required such as PowerPoint or Adobe Acrobat Reader.