This activity is jointly provided by Parkinson & Movement Disorder Alliance (PMD Alliance) and The Association of Movement Disorder Advanced Practice Providers (AMDAPP).

Medical providers in rural settings have limited access to specialized neurological care, current evidenced based resources, and opportunities for PD specific education. These barriers contribute to delays in diagnosis, inconsistent treatment, and limited access to multidisciplinary services. Addressing this gap through education, improved care coordination, and specialty consultation can enhance the quality of care for individuals with PD.

Medical providers in rural settings need to be able to identify Parkinson’s disease early and have proper knowledge of intervention techniques across the health care setting to support better management of this progressive disease.

The practice gap in management of rural PD care is partially driven by educational needs related to knowledge, competence, and performance. Providers may lack current knowledge of PD diagnosis and symptom management, medication therapy, and EB practice or treatment guidelines. Limited opportunities for trainings specific to PD may affect provider competence in recognizing disease progression, managing motor and non-motor symptoms, and coordinating multidisciplinary care. These practice gaps can influence clinical judgemnet and performance, resulting in poor assessment and intervention services. Targeted continued education opportunities with care based learning may help providers strengthen knowledge, build clinical competence, and improve performance in management of PD disease in rural healthcare settings and communities.

Estimated time to complete activity: 15 minutes

Accreditation Statement

In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by Parkinson & Movement Disorder Alliance (PMD Alliance) and Bismarck Parkinson's Support Group.  PMD Alliance is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Credit Designation

Continuing Medical Education

PMD Alliance designates this course for a maximum of 3.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™.  

Claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Educational Objectives

After completing this activity, the participant should be better able to:

• Recognize the early motor and non-motor features suggestive of Parkinson's disease. 
• Describe the diagnostic approach to early Parkinson's disease and recognize red flags for atypical presentations. 
• Implement early management and treatment strategies, including pharmacologic treatment, and exercise. 
• Know and apply the first steps in Parkinson's disease management.

Disclosure of Relevant Financial Relationships

Parkinson and Movement Disorder Alliance (PMD Alliance) requires faculty, planners, and others in control of educational content to disclose all their financial relationships with ineligible companies.  PMD Alliance is committed to providing its learners with high quality accredited continuing education activities and related materials that promote improvements or quality in healthcare and not a specific proprietary business interest of an ineligible company.

Faculty/Panelists reported the following relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities related to the educational content of this CME activity:

Salima Brillman

• Speakers’ Bureau, consultant, and/or advisory board member for AbbVie, Acadia, Supernus, Teva, Amenal, and Neurocrine.

Alek Krumm

• No relevant financial relationships with commercial interests.

Anthony Mitterling

• No relevant financial relationships with commercial interests.

Shylah Schauer

• No relevant financial relationships with commercial interests.

Tiffany Doyle

• No relevant financial relationships with commercial interests.

Heidi Fiskness

• No relevant financial relationships with commercial interests.

Megan Dooley

• No relevant financial relationships with commercial interests.

Planners and authors reported the following relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities related to the educational content of this CME activity:

Heidi Fiskness

• No relevant financial relationships with commercial interests.

Megan Dooley

• No relevant financial relationships with commercial interests.

Clemie Pizzillo

• No relevant financial relationships with commercial interests.

Jason Rivera

• No relevant financial relationships with commercial interests.

All identified relevant financial relationships are thoroughly vetted and mitigated according to PMD Alliance CME Program standard operating procedures. 

Disclosure of Unlabeled Use

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.

Disclaimer

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.

Request for Credit

In order to obtain your CME certificate, please follow the directions provided at the conclusion of the course.  

If you have questions regarding the certification of this activity, please contact PMD Alliance at education@pmdalliance.org