Diseases associated with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) create a considerable burden on the nation’s health system and pose many challenges in terms of effective identification, treatment and patient management. Both HBV and HCV are often asymptomatic, earning them reputations as silent killers. Many individuals are unaware that they are infected until they develop signs or symptoms of cirrhosis or liver cancer. As many as 2 million Americans are infected with HBV, and 5 million are infected with HCV. Despite this large patient population, standards for virus prevention, screening and clinical care are currently inadequate, resulting in a major unmet medical need.

Target Audience
This activity has been designed to meet the educational needs of physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners and registered nurses involved in the care of patients with chronic viral hepatitis B and C.

Educational Objectives

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

• Describe the need for a coordinated national response to chronic viral hepatitis B and C
• Identify improved strategies for the screening, diagnosis, treatment, and care of persons with HBV or HCV
• Outline the most recent CDC recommendations on screening and managing HBV and HCV infections in clinical practice
• Differentiate among available therapeutic agents for HBV and HCV to optimize treatment
• Identify factors that might affect the response to treatment of infected individuals
•  Describe specific treatment and management strategies in order to delay the onset of liver disease
•  Identify the ethnic/racial/socioethnic disparities in chronic liver disease, including HCC and screening
• Specify strategies to overcome ethnic/racial/socioethnic disparities in the screening and diagnosis of patients with chronic liver disease

CME/CE Information

Physician Continuing Medical Information

Accreditation Statement

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 Postgraduate Institute of Medicine (PIM) and HealthmattersCME. PIM is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Credit Designation

Postgraduate Institute for Medicine designates this educational activity for a maximum of 12 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Nursing Continuing Education Information

Purpose

This activity will provide a forum for the development of a coordinated national response to chronic viral hepatitis B and C through improved prevention, detection, and patient management.

Credit Designation

This educational activity for 12 contact hours is provided by Postgraduate Institute for Medicine.

Accreditation Statements

Postgraduate Institute for Medicine is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

Postgraduate Institute for Medicine (PIM) requires instructors, planners, managers and other individuals who are in a position to control the content of this activity to disclose any real or apparent conflict of interest they may have as related to the content of this activity. All identified conflicts of interest are thoroughly vetted by PIM for fair balance, scientific objectivity of studies mentioned in the materials or used as the basis for content, and appropriateness of patient care recommendations.

Jointly sponsored by Postgraduate Institute for Medicine and HealthmattersCME

Americans with Disabilities Act

Event staff will be glad to assist you with any special needs (ie, physical, dietary, etc). Please contact Alexis Weinstein prior to the live event at 646-674-9545.