Information

PRESENTED BY:

Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System; Arkansas Geriatric Education Center (AGEC); Donald W. Reynolds Department of Geriatrics and the Office of Continuing Medical Education, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

TARGET AUDIENCE:

The target audience includes primary care, internal medicine, family medicine, geriatric specialist physicians, physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists, physical therapists, nurses, dietitians and other health professionals interested in the prevention and management of falls and gait disorders in older adults.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

The goal of this program is to update practitioners with timely information on the advances being made in the prevention and treatment of falls and gait disorders in older adults. Falls are among the major causes of disability and morbidity in older adults; approaches to the root causes and prevention of falls will be addressed.  At the completion of this program, the attendees should be able to:

1. Recognize the factors that contribute to an increased risk for falls in older adults;
2. Link recent research on the avoidance of falls and on gait disorders in older adults to possible solutions to minimize risk; and
3. Develop programs that best meet the needs of individual elderly adults to minimize risk of falls.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This is a one and a half day conference that will address key issues in the prevention of falls in older adults.  Topics will include the epidemiology of falls and the burdens on the health care system, identification of fall risks including sarcopenia and nutrition, balance and gait disorders commonly seen in older adults, and the development of programs and tools that help identify and subsequently reduce the risks associated with falls.

ACCREDITATION:

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 University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Medicine and the GRECC at the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System. The UAMS College of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The UAMS College of Medicine Office of Continuing Medical Education designates this educational activity for a maximum of 7 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.  Each physician should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

This educational activity is provided by the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System (CAVHS).  The CAVHS is an approved provider of nursing continuing education by the Arkansas Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.  Participation in this activity provides 7 contact hours of nursing continuing education credit.

It is the policy of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Medicine to ensure balance, independence, objectivity, and scientific rigor in all sponsored or jointly sponsored educational activities.  All individuals who are in a position to control the content of the educational activity are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships they have with any commercial interest(s). These individuals include course/activity directors, planning committee members, staff, teachers, or authors of CME. The ACCME defines relevant financial relationships as those in any amount occurring within the past 12 months that create a conflict of interest. Individuals who refuse to disclose will be disqualified from participation in the development, management, presentation, or evaluation of the CME activity.

Application for CME credit has been filed with the American Academy of Family Physicians.  Determination of credit is pending.  Application for CEU’s has also been made for dietitians, pharmacists and nursing home administrators and other disciplines. 

LOCATION:

Doubletree Hotel, 424 West Markham, Little Rock, AR

ACCOMMODATIONS:

A block of rooms has been reserved at the Doubletree Hotel for participants wanting overnight accommodations on March 16 and 17, 2007 (room block reserved until February 25).  A special rate of $76 is available if you identify yourself as an attendee of this conference.  You may make reservations directly with the hotel by calling (501) 372-4371 or 1-800-222-TREE.

FEE:

$135 Non-VA Registration Fee
$100 VA Employees