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Best 5 Pharmacology CME/CE Courses to Take in 2022

Reading Time: 7 Minutes | Author: Christine Zink, MD

pharmacology cme courses

Published June 13, 2022

Pharmacology is an integral part of health care. Half of all Americans are regularly taking prescription medicine,1 so having a near-complete understanding of the pharmacologic management of a wide array of diseases is crucial to providing quality patient care as a primary care clinician. You are also tasked with staying up to date on the newest pharmacologic options and understanding the benefits and risks of these medications for individual patients.

To help you stay informed as a busy clinician, Pri-Med offers free online pharmacology CME/CE courses that you complete on your own time to keep you abreast of the best practices and latest evidence on pharmacologic agents. These courses also support board certification and licensure, particularly for nurse practitioners with heavier pharmacology CME/CE requirements. Pri-Med also offers multipart curricula to suit your pharmacologic practice needs. Complete these educational opportunities through online courses and boost your pharmacology confidence.

Below are five comprehensive pharmacology CME/CE courses that are a must-take for primary care clinicians in 2022. Read the highlights of each course below.

Course #1: A Pri-Med Curriculum – Incretin-Based Multiagonist Therapy: Emerging Treatment for Diabetes and Obesity

View Course | Faculty:

  • Jennifer B. Green, MD; Professor of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Duke University Medical Center; Faculty Member, Duke Clinical Research Institute
  • Robert F. Kushner, MD, FACP; Professor of Medicine, Departments of Medicine and Medical Education, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

Over 70 million adults in the United States have obesity, and over 34 million have diabetes mellitus (one in 10 people).2 The two diseases are tightly intertwined, and recent pharmacologic advances have found ways to treat both concurrently. The incretin therapies, dual agonists of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), have gained significant popularity for the treatment of diabetes and obesity.3 Clinicians can learn about these latest treatments with our course.

This is a four-part curriculum that tackles incretin-based treatments from multiple angles. Work through the material at your own pace to review the physiology of these new medications and their role in caring for people with type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity. The first part of this series helps clinicians understand the critical role that weight loss plays in managing type 2 diabetes. It focuses on how incretin-based therapy can treat obesity and diabetes concurrently. Take advantage of an interactive video in the second part of this course to delve further into the relationship between obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. In the third part, another interactive video focuses on the use of incretin-based medications in clinical practice and describes the different roles of GIP and GLP-1 in diabetes pathophysiology. Finally, the conclusion of this curriculum helps clinicians understand the latest clinical trial data on the benefits of incretin-based multireceptor therapy. Clinicians will hear directly from the experts who presented their findings at the 2021 European Association of the Study of Diabetes and the American Diabetes Association annual meetings.

Watch now, and earn 2.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ and 2.50 ABIM Medical Knowledge MOC Points, or 2.22 AANP contact hours of continuing education, including 1.19 hours of pharmacology.

Course #2: Psychopharmacology: Prescribing with Confidence

View Course | Faculty:

  • Jeffrey Rado, MD, MPH, FAPA; Associate Professor, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

Half of all Americans will be diagnosed with a mental illness at some point.4 It can be difficult for primary care clinicians to connect their patients to appropriate outpatient mental health care.5 Therefore, primary care clinicians need to feel comfortable managing mental illness in conjunction with other primary care diagnoses. Learn the best pharmacologic treatments for common mental health problems, such as anxiety and depression, in our course.

Primary care clinicians are often the first line of defense when it comes to managing multiple acute and chronic illnesses in their patients. This holistic approach to patient care includes the need to expand knowledge on how to manage common mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. Join Dr. Jeffrey Rado in reviewing treatment-to-target principles for your regular practice. This activity discusses second-line therapeutic strategies for treating major depression. It will end with a discussion of the best practices for using benzodiazepines in patients with psychiatric illnesses. Watch now, and earn 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ and 1.00 ABIM Medical Knowledge MOC Point, or 1.00 AANP contact hour of continuing education, including 1.00 hour of pharmacology.

Course #3: Strategies for Effective Pain Management in Clinical Practice (Module 1)

View Course | Faculty:

  • Charles E. Argoff, MD, FABPM; Professor of Neurology, Albany Medical College; Director, Comprehensive Pain Center, Albany Medical Center
  • Oscar A. de Leon-Casasola, MD; Professor of Anesthesia and Medicine, Senior Vice Chair, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University of Buffalo; Chief of the Division of Pain Medicine, Professor of Oncology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center
  • Katherine E. Galluzzi, DO, CMD, FACOFP; Professor and Chair, Department of Geriatrics, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine

Approximately 20% of US adults live with chronic pain, and many of these people reside in small metro or rural areas where there is limited access to specialty pain management services.6 In addition, in 2019, over 70,000 people died from a drug overdose, with the majority involving a prescription or illicit opioid.7 These numbers highlight the challenges of effectively managing pain. Primary care clinicians can learn pharmacologic strategies for pain management in our course.

It is challenging for all clinicians to effectively manage their patients’ pain during the opioid epidemic. Pri-Med offers a curriculum, Strategies for Effective Pain Management in Clinical Practice, that helps clinicians recognize, diagnose, and classify pain. In Module 1, clinicians will learn about pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic pain management options. They will learn to explain the definitions and mechanisms of pain and how to prescribe needed therapies appropriately. This activity also helps primary care clinicians assess potential opioid abuse and addiction risk factors. Watch now, and earn 1.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ and 1.25 ABIM Medical Knowledge MOC Points, or 1.28 AANP contact hours of continuing education, including 0.33 hours of pharmacology.

Course #4: What PCPs Should Know About Adjunctive Therapy for MDD (Module 3)

View Course | Faculty:

  • Pamela Kushner, MD, FAAFP; Clinical Professor of Family Medicine, University of California Irvine Medical Center; Director, Kushner Wellness Center
  • Jeffrey Rado, MD, MPH, FAPA; Associate Professor, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

Major depression is one of the most common mental disorders.8 Approximately 21 million Americans had at least one major depressive episode in 2020.8 Most people with major depression have their illness managed in a primary care clinic.5 It is vital for primary care clinicians to be able to manage early, partially treated, and difficult-to-treat major depression. Learn pharmacologic techniques for managing partially treated depression in our course.

This activity is part of Pri-Med’s curriculum, Treatment Escalation for Patients with Major Depressive Disorder. In Module 3, clinicians engage in an interactive learning experience to learn more about adjunctive therapy used for patients with major depressive disorder experiencing a partial treatment response. This activity dives into pharmacologic treatment not used as often by primary care clinicians, such as second-generation antipsychotics and esketamine. Clinicians will also learn how to combine nonpharmacologic treatments into the overall treatment plan. Expert faculty also focus on the neurochemical rationale behind the use of these medications and spotlight their efficacy and adverse effects. Take advantage of the use of these agents and watch now to earn 0.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ and 0.50 ABIM Medical Knowledge MOC Point, or 0.50 AANP contact hour of continuing education, including 0.32 hour of pharmacology.

Course #5: Using DOACs for Valvular Atrial Fibrillation – Frankly Speaking Podcast EP 249

View Course | Faculty:

  • Frank J. Domino, MD; Professor, Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Massachusetts Medical School
  • Alan M. Ehrlich, MD, FAAFP; Associate Professor of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Massachusetts Medical School; Executive Editor, DynaMed

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 12 million people will have atrial fibrillation in 2030.9 Most people with this disease should receive anticoagulation to prevent complications such as stroke. Compared with warfarin, direct oral anticoagulants have a more favorable efficacy and safety profile in people with atrial fibrillation.10 Learn more about these medications and how best to educate your patients about them in our course.

Physicians, patients, and major health organizations prefer direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) over older medications such as warfarin for thromboembolic prevention in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. Join expert faculty in discussing the use of these new agents in patients with atrial fibrillation. Explore the data supporting the use of these medications and learn how to educate patients on their benefits and risks. Watch now and earn 0.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. 

 

As a leader in CME/CE for 27+ years, Pri-Med provides primary care clinicians with the latest evidence-based education, including a diverse array of pharmacology CME/CE courses. We offer extensive knowledge on the use of pharmacologic agents and provide tips on how you can educate patients on their use. Create your free account in less than 60 seconds and choose from on-demand courses, live virtual conferences, or in-person conferences. Start earning credits at no cost today.

References

1. Prescription drug use in the United States, 2015–2016. Updated March 9, 2019. Accessed April 24, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db334.htm

2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The facts, stats, and impact of diabetes. Updated January 24, 2022. Accessed March 3, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/library/spotlights/diabetes-facts-stats.html

3. Tan Q, Akindehin SE, Orsso CE, et al. Recent advances in incretin-based pharmacotherapies for the treatment of obesity and diabetes. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2022;13:838410.

4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About mental health. Updated June 28, 2021. Accessed April 24, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/library/spotlights/diabetes-facts-stats.html

5. American Academy of Family Physicians. Mental health care services by family physicians (position paper). Accessed April 24, 2022. https://www.aafp.org/about/policies/all/mental-health-services.html

6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Chronic pain and high-impact chronic pain among U.S. adults, 2019. Updated November 4, 2020. Accessed April 24, 2022.https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db390.htm

7. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Opioids. Updated October 26, 2021. Accessed April 24, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/opioids/index.html

8. National Institute of Mental Health. Major depression. Updated January 2022. Accessed April 24, 2022. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/major-depression

9. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Atrial fibrillation. Updated September 27, 2021. Accessed March 14, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/atrial_fibrillation.htm

10. Carnicelli AP, Hong H, Connolly SJ, et al. Direct oral anticoagulants versus warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation: patient-level network meta-analyses of randomized clinical trials with interaction testing by age and sex. Circulation. 2022;145(4):242-255. Erratum in: Circulation. 2022;145(8):e640.