Improving Beta-thalassemia Outcomes

Jointly Provided by: Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center and

Medical Logix, LLC

2.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ and 2.75 ANCC contact hours

Release Date: September 23, 2021

Expiration Date: September 23, 2022

Estimated time to complete this activity: 2.75 hours

Acknowledgement of Commercial Support: This activity is supported by an educational grant from Bristol Myers Squibb.

Statement of Need

Beta-thalassemia is a heritable red blood cell (RBC) disorder caused by mutations in beta-globin genes, resulting in defective hemoglobin production. The spectrum of disease ranges from no clinical effect, to relatively small decreases in beta-globin chain production, to severe effects due to the total elimination of beta-globin production. These may manifest as chronic anemia, downstream multiorgan morbidity, and increased mortality. Globally, beta-thalassemia is an increasing problem that affects roughly 23,000 births annually. In the United States, there are greater than 1000 patients afflicted with the most extreme form of this condition: beta-thalassemia major. Currently, the mainstay of beta-thalassemia treatment is RBC transfusion. Unfortunately, chronic RBC transfusion results in iron overload. This in turn leads to damage to the heart, liver, bone, and endocrine glands. This educational program will educate clinicians involved in the care of these patients with beta-thalassemia on these crucial topics in a novel learning environment. Sub-specialists in beta-thalassemia will work together with general hematologists and other clinicians to explore and dive deeply into these educational needs.

Intended Audience

This educational activity is directed toward members of the beta-thalassemia care team including adult and pediatric hematologists and nurses practicing within thalassemia centers and community practices. It will also include NPs/PAs, navigators, and pharmacists actively involved in the care of patients with beta-thalassemia.

Learning Objectives

After participating in this activity, you will demonstrate the ability to:

• Discuss the underlying pathophysiology of β-thalassemia as it relates to clinical presentation and outcomes.
• Apply evidence- and guideline-based recommendations for the recognition and management of β-thalassemia–related transfusion issues.
• Incorporate efficacy and safety data in novel approaches in treating β-thalassemia including erythroid maturation agents and gene therapies.
• Use best practices to transition pediatric patients with β-thalassemia smoothly and safely to adult care.

ACCME Accreditation Statement
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by Albert Einstein College of Medicine-Montefiore Medical Center and Medical Logix, LLC. Albert Einstein College of Medicine-Montefiore Medical Center is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the health care team.

Credit Designation Statements 

Physicians: Albert Einstein College of Medicine-Montefiore Medical Center designates this other (blended live and enduring curriculum) activity for a maximum of 2.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Nurses: The activity is awarded 2.75 contact hours (based on 60 minutes per contact hour).

IPCE Credit: This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive 2.75 Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credits for learning and change.

Method of Participation and Obtaining Credit

There is no fee to participate in this activity. To obtain credit, you must review all activity information, including the learning objectives and disclosure statements, complete the components below, the final assessment and the evaluation at the conclusion of the activity. A satisfactory score is defined as answering 70% of the post-assessment questions correctly. Your certificate can be printed immediately.

If you have questions about this activity, please contact Albert Einstein College of Medicine-Montefiore Medical Center, cme@montefiore.org.

• Baseline Assessment – Meaningful Engagement for Meaningful Impact: Improving Beta-thalassemia Outcomes through Digital Small Group Learning Experiences
  • 0.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
  • 0.25 ANCC contact hour(s) 
• Self Study Module 1 – Beta-thalassemia, Transfusion Thresholds and Complications
  • 0.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
  • 0.25 ANCC contact hour(s)
• Self Study Module 2 – Novel Therapies
  • 0.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
  • 0.25 ANCC contact hour(s)
• Self Study Module 3 – Transition of Care
  • 0.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
  • 0.25 ANCC contact hour(s)
• Final Assessment – Meaningful Engagement for Meaningful Impact: Improving Beta-thalassemia Outcomes through Digital Small Group Learning Experiences
  • 0.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
  • 0.25 ANCC contact hour(s)
• Live Group Discussion #1: Key Insights on Beta-thalassemia
  • 0.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
  • 0.50 ANCC contact hour(s)
• Group Task
  • 0.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
  • 0.50 ANCC contact hour(s)
• Live Group Discussion #2: Beta-thalassemia Take-Home Messages: Putting the Evidence to Practice
  • 0.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
  • 0.50 ANCC contact hour(s)

Conflict of Interest Statement

The “Policy on Collection of Relevant Financial Relationships and Resolution of COI” of Albert Einstein College of Medicine-Montefiore Medical Center requires that individuals in a position to control the content of an educational activity disclose all relevant financial relationships with any ineligible company*during the past 24 months. Albert Einstein College of Medicine-Montefiore Medical Center resolves all conflicts of interest to ensure objectivity, independence, balance and scientific rigor in all their educational activities. Any presenter whose disclosed relationships prove to create a conflict of interest with regard to their contribution to the activity will not be permitted to present. All relevant financial relationships and potential conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the activity.

Albert Einstein College of Medicine-Montefiore Medical Center also requires that faculty participating in this IPCE activity disclose to the audience when discussing the unlabeled or investigational use of any commercial product or device not yet approved for use in the United States.

*The ACCME defines ineligible companies as those whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.

Unlabeled/Unapproved Discussion

This educational activity discusses the unapproved use of Gene therapy products, Mitapivat, Etavopivat, IMR-687, and Hepcidin mimetics for the treatment of beta-thalassemia. The opinions expressed in this educational activity are those of the faculty and do not necessarily represent the views of Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center and the planners. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.

Course Director

Sujit Sheth, MD

Harold Weil Professor of Pediatric Hematology
Chief, Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
Vice Chair for Clinical Research,
Department of Pediatrics
Weill Cornell Medicine
New York, NY

Disclosure:

Consultant: Agios, Celgene/BMS, Bluebird, Chiesi

Research funding for multicenter trial: Agios, Celgene/BMS, Dispersol, Imara, La Jolla

Clinical Trial Steering Committee: CRISPR/Vertex

Dr. Sheth has indicated that his relationships will not impact his ability to present material that is that is independent, objective, balanced and scientifically rigorous.

Faculty

Dorothy Kleinert, DNP, MPH, MA, ANP, CPNP
Pediatrics – Thalassemia Clinical Research
Weill Cornell Medicine
New York, NY

Disclosure: Advisory Board: Chiesi, Novartis

Dr. Kleinert has indicated that her relationships will not impact her ability to present material that is independent, objective, balanced and scientifically rigorous.

Peer Reviewers and Planners

Henny Billett, MD
Professor, Department of Medicine (Hematology)
Professor, Department of Pathology
Chief, Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine
Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center
Bronx, NY

Disclosure: Dr. Billett has no relevant conflicts of interest with any ACCME-defined ineligible company.

Rhoda San Jose, DNP, MS, RN, NPD-BC, CHSE 
Manager of Clinical Learning, Continuing Education, and Simulation
Nurse Residency Program Coordinator
Montefiore Learning Network
Albert Einstein College of Medicine-Montefiore Medical Center
Bronx, NY

Disclosure: Dr. San Jose has no relevant conflicts of interest with any ACCME-defined ineligible company.


Victor B. Hatcher, PhD
Associate Dean, Continuing Professional Development
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Montefiore Medical Center
Bronx, NY

Disclosure: Dr. Hatcher has no relevant conflicts of interest with any ACCME-defined ineligible company.

Medical Logix

John Gentile, Megan Gentile and Joshua Hwang of Medical Logix, LLC have indicated they do not have any relevant conflicts of interest with any ACCME-defined ineligible company.

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 IPCE activity is for educational purposes only and is not meant to substitute for the independent medical judgment of a physician regarding diagnosis and treatment of a specific patient’s medical condition. 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 patients’ conditions and possible contraindications and/or dangers in use. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings. The opinions expressed in this educational activity are those of the faculty and do not necessarily represent the views of Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center and the planners.

Privacy Statement

Albert Einstein College of Medicine-Montefiore Medical Center, Center for Continuing Professional Development (Einstein-Montefiore) protects the privacy of personal and other information regarding participants and education collaborators. Einstein-Montefiore will not release personally identifiable information to a third party without the individual’s consent, except such information as is required for reporting to the ACCME.

Einstein-Montefiore maintains physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards that comply with federal regulations to protect against the loss, misuse, or alteration of information collected from you.

Additional information regarding Albert Einstein College of Medicine-Montefiore Medical Center’s Privacy Policy can be viewed at https://www.mecme.org/PrivacyStatement.aspx 

Einstein-Montefiore is committed to protecting the privacy of personal information from our participants and educational collaborators. Einstein-Montefiore maintains physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards that comply with federal regulations to protect against the loss, misuse, or alteration of personal information.

Collection and Use of Your Personal Information

The submission of certain personally identifiable information is necessary to award and track the credits participants may earn after completing an activity. Required items include first name, last name, middle initial, degree, email address, address and phone number. These items are necessary. Participants are also required to complete an evaluation of each activity. All evaluative information submitted is collected, retained, and used by Einstein-Montefiore to continuously improve the learning experience.

Einstein-Montefiore will not transfer, sell, or share personal information with outside parties or otherwise disclose personal information unless required to in a legal process. Einstein-Montefiore will retain your personal data only for the period necessary to accomplish the stated purposes and to comply with applicable laws.

© All rights reserved – Albert Einstein College of Medicine-Montefiore Medical Center and Medical Logix, LLC.