Detangling Difficult Conversations About Multiple Sclerosis: Clinical Exchanges

Program Overview

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. As the treatment armamentarium continues to grow, patient involvement in the development of an effective treatment strategy is becoming increasingly important. In this Clinical Exchanges^SMactivity, leading MS specialists discuss issues of diagnosing MS, initiating treatment, and switching therapies, all in the context of practical shared decision-making techniques demonstrated by their own patients.

Credit Expired

CE Credit Expired

Target Audience

The target audience for this activity is neurology providers (including physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants) who diagnose and manage patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Educational Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, participants should be better able to:

Recognize and diagnose the spectrum of multiple sclerosis (MS), from CIS to the various forms of MS (ie, relapsing-remitting and progressive forms) using established, updated clinical, imaging, and laboratory criteria
Appropriately use available and emerging disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) for MS based on their efficacy, safety, and tolerability profiles, as well as their approved or anticipated indications for the various forms of MS
Recognize and manage treatment failure, including switching DMTs
Monitor disease and patient outcomes, including patient adherence, according to recommended protocols
Use shared decision making when prescribing DMTs to improve treatment adherence and patient outcomes
Appropriately manage MS in women of child-bearing age

Activity Faculty

Patricia K. Coyle, MD, FAAN, FANA (Chair)

Professor and Vice-Chair, Department of Neurology
Founder and Director, Multiple Sclerosis Comprehensive Care Center
Stony Brook University Medical Center
Stony Brook, NY

Clyde Markowitz, MD

Director, Multiple Sclerosis Center
Penn Medicine
Associate Professor, Neurology
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA

This educational activity may contain discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not indicated by the FDA. The planners of this activity do not recommend the use of any agent outside of the labeled indications. The opinions expressed in the educational activity are those of the faculty and do not necessarily represent the views of the planners. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.

Participants have an implied responsibility to use the newly acquired information to enhance patient outcomes and their own professional development. The information presented in this activity is not meant to serve as a guideline for patient management. Any procedures, medications, or other courses of diagnosis or treatment discussed or suggested in this activity should not be used by clinicians without evaluation of their patient’s conditions and possible contraindications and/or dangers in use, review of any applicable manufacturer’s product information, and comparison with recommendations of other authorities. 