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Cancellation Policy: No refunds will be granted to AACPDM eCourses enrollment. Any cancellation requests must be received in writing prior to the course start date to info@aacpdm.org. Approved requests will be given credit towards a future AACPDM eCourse.
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Available courses
Presenters:
Hank Chambers, MD; Michelle Tourne PT, DPT, PCS; Dianne Hrubec, MS, PT; Amanda Sarafian, MSOT; Laura Vogtle PhD, OTR/L; Natalie Truba, PhD; Jill Chambers
Summary:
This course is designed to be a forum for providers to discuss challenges that families and health care professionals encounter as they work to build a successful family-team relationship over time. Each week focuses on a different topic in the family /provider relationship where conflicts can occur-- living with grief, therapies and equipment, alternative therapies and transition. In Navigating the Journey, participants will meet families talking about the challenges in raising children with disabilities via video interview. Providers will discuss challenging scenarios they faced with families and participants will engage in robust on-line discussion of challenges and strategies to build successful professional relationships with the families they serve.
Learning Objectives:
- Participants
will gain a better understanding of how to identity and address
difficult situations and communications with families.
- Participants
will develop an understanding of the role grief plays in family
decision making in raising a child with a disability.
- Participants
will develop an understanding of the change in family dynamics and
priorities over the lifespan of raising a child with a disability.
- Participants will improve communication skills in addressing conflict with patients.
Managing Aspiration Pneumonia
Presenters: Dr. Art Beisang, Dr. Cristina Mikesel, Dr. Micah Berman
Course Description: The impaired airways resulting from aspiration is a very common factor that shortens the length of life of our patients and decreases the quality of life of both our patients and their families. In this series we will explore the diagnosis of aspiration, consider the sources of foreign material that is aspirated and discuss the evaluation and treatment options. Drooling is a significant source of aspirated material encountered by our patients with neurologic impairment. We will spend significant time discussing step wise drooling management. We will also introduce the concept of the aerodigestive clinic as a resource for effective diagnosis of aspiration issue.
Learning Objectives:
After the course the participants will be able to:
- Understand how to recognize and manage aspiration pneumonia.
- Looking at and managing the sources of fluid that causes aspiration.
- Stepwise management of Drooling
- Understand when referral to subspecialty care including aerodigestive clinic would be helpful
Autism- Challenges in the Diagnosis
Presenters: Eric Fombonne, MD; Lark Huang-Storms, PhD; Robert Nickel, MD; Randall Phelps, MD; Katie Zuckerman, MD, MPH
Course Description:
Even for clinicians working with children with developmental
disabilities, the diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) continues
to be a challenge. While some children present with clear symptoms that
can be diagnosed easily, others present with milder or more complex
clinical presentations that require more detailed and interdisciplinary
assessment. In this course we will first present the basic criteria for
the diagnosis of ASD, and will discuss recommendations for an
interdisciplinary team evaluation. We will emphasize key aspects of the
differential diagnosis through case discussion.
Knowledge of changes in the diagnostic criteria over time and issues related to differential diagnosis are critical for understanding the changes in the epidemiology of autism. While there has been an increase in the prevalence of ASD and acceptance of the stability of younger diagnosis, there continue to be delays in provision of the diagnosis, especially in minority groups. We will discuss the use of screening instruments for ASD and review other causes for diagnostic delays, and will present examples of promising community programs for early identification.
Autism is a complex and lifelong disorder, and children and families require support at multiple levels, starting with family education, early intervention / special education, therapy services, health care and other community supports. In this eCourse, we will focus specifically on the management issues that are most relevant to the health care provider, including review of genetics and recommendations for the etiologic evaluation, treatment of common health problems such as sleep and feeding, discussion of challenging behaviors and functional behavioral analysis, as well as the rationale and uses of psychopharmacology.
Learning Objectives
- Understand the challenges of the differential diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Describe early signs of ASD and screening strategies of ASD
- Describe the use and limitations of diagnostic instruments for ASD
- Describe the trajectory of prevalence of autism in several countries
- Describe factors contributing to the increase of prevalence in the diagnosis of autism
- Have a basic understanding of the genetics of autism, when genetic testing is indicated
- Describe barriers in the access to diagnosis and treatment
The AACPDM would like to thank these presenters for generously volunteering their time to present this eCourse
Complex Care: Team Management In Spinal Fusion for Children with Cerebral Palsy
Presenters: Mohan Belthur, MD, FRCS (Tr & Orth), FRCS(C), Dr. Ranjit Varghese, Irene Dietz, MD, FAAP, Gina Rempel, MD, FRCPC, FAAP, Lisa Letzkus, Ph.D., RN, CPNP-AC, CCRN, & Holly Beth Roach, OTR, ATP
Course Description:
Spine deformity is common in children with neurodevelopmental disabilities especially cerebral palsy. Surgical intervention presents management challenges to their families and care teams because of the complex interplay of co-occurring conditions. Decreased pulmonary function, inadequate nutrition, seizures, infection and immunodeficiency, coagulopathies, decreased mobility, communication and cognitive difficulties may all be present.
Protocol-based care has been shown to successfully decrease the number of days on mechanical ventilation, improve mortality from sepsis, reduce costs of hospitalization, and reduce the incidence of drug-resistant bacterial infections. A high-risk spine protocol helps patients by having dedicated professionals in multiple specialties focusing on all aspects of a patients care in the pre, intra and postoperative phases. This course will present the current knowledge informing providers for children with NM disorders in this process.
Learning Objectives
- Understand the prevalence of scoliosis in children with cerebral palsy, risk factors for developing scoliosis, natural history, treatment options, and outcomes of surgical treatment, complications and related healthcare costs.
- Identify modifiable risk factors and co-occurring conditions including airway, pulmonary, cardiac, nutritional, musculoskeletal, and psychosocial issues should be evaluated and treated before undergoing high-risk spine surgery
- Understand how dedicated multidisciplinary team involved throughout the pre-, intra-, and postoperative periods improves patient outcome
- Integrate how protocol-based care in spine surgery may lead to reduced complications and better outcomes with reduced length of stay and overall improved patient outcomes
- Discuss how shared decision-making and adequate preparation of the family before surgery improves outcomes
The AACPDM would like to thank these presenters for generously volunteering their time to present this eCourse.
Let's Apply the ICF in Day-to-Day Practice
Orthopedic Surgery for Adults with Cerebral Palsy
Transition to Adulthood for Youth with Chronic Needs: Challenges and Rewards
Presenters: Susan Labhard, MSN, RN; Sue Leibold, MSN, RN; Jan Willem Gorter, MD, PhD, FRCP(C); Ronna Linroth, PhD; Wilma van der Slot, MD PhD
Course Description:
The goals of this course are to improve knowledge of transition to
adulthood and age-appropriate treatment of young people with childhood
onset needs. We will share expertise from North America and the
Netherlands on core transition components, interventions to promote
self-management capabilities of adolescents and young adults with
disabilities, and the importance for supporting youth as they move into
the culture of adult life beyond medical care alone. Transition
challenges and solutions will be illustrated by presenting transition
resources and best practices.
Learning Objectives:
- To gain awareness of the broad implications of transition and the developmental needs of youth with child onset conditions.
- To identify steps to formalize transition services for youth with chronic needs.
- To explore application of transition interventions in a variety of settings.
- To use evidence-based practices to advise transition program planning.
The AACPDM would like to thank these presenters for generously volunteering their time to present this eCourse