Medical Education Company Launches Free Web-based CME/CE Program for Primary Care Providers Facing Complex Conditions, Rare Diseases

    RAMSEY, NJ, August 11, 2016 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Today, Health and Wellness Education Partners (HWeP) of Ramsey, New Jersey, launched a free continuing education (CME/CE) activity for primary care providers, titled Optimizing Primary Care for Patients with Rare Diseases. This Web-based program features expert video presentations, patient- and caregiver-presented case studies, downloadable print resources, and more, focused on the successful delivery of primary care to patients with complex conditions and rare diseases. The content is intended for physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, physician assistants, and pharmacists and offers up to 6 credits to eligible participants. The program is available now at www.RareOpportunities.com.

This new CME/CE activity, jointly provided by the University of Cincinnati and HWeP, is part of HWeP's rare-disease initiative called Rare Opportunities in Primary Care. The overall mission of the initiative is to deliver education, tools, and resources to primary care providers to help them give comprehensive care to patients with rare diseases. Of note, HWeP is self-funding this first-of-its-kind CME/CE offering, a testament to the company's commitment to addressing the great unmet need for high-quality education in this area.

Nearly 1 in 10 Americans, or 30 million people, lives with a rare disease--and two-thirds of these patients are children. Despite primary care providers assuming responsibility for the management and care of these patients' common needs, the majority of these providers do not receive any special training on how to administer or adjust routine care for their patients with rare diseases. HWeP hopes that Rare Opportunities in Primary Care and this new CME/CE activity will bring these issues to light, as well as raise the bar for the quality of primary care provided to this population.

Program chair Dr Robert Saul of Greenville, South Carolina, notes: "Although each of these diseases is rare on its own, together they affect the lives of 30 million Americans. Clearly, primary care providers must be better prepared to help identify and care for these patients."

A survey conducted for this initiative confirmed that many primary care providers are less than confident providing routine care to patients with rare diseases. The first CME/CE program of its kind, Optimizing Primary Care for Patients with Rare Diseases strives to help these clinicians:

- Identify clinical clues that expedite diagnosis of rare diseases in different clinical settings
- Develop successful referral networks
- Optimize care for pediatric patients
- Utilize a whole-patient approach with an enhanced understanding of the impact of rare-disease progression on mental health conditions

Continuing education credits are available to eligible participants through the University of Cincinnati, the University of Cincinnati College of Nursing, and the American Academy of Family Physicians. More information about this CME/CE program and Rare Opportunities in Primary Care is available at www.RareOpportunities.com.

About Health and Wellness Education Partners
Since 2005, Health and Wellness Education Partners (HWeP) has worked with academia, industry, patients, and payers to advance patient care. HWeP's latest initiative is Rare Opportunities in Primary Care, developed to provide education, tools, and resources to primary care clinicians that will help them provide comprehensive care to patients with rare diseases.

University of Cincinnati
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of the University of Cincinnati and Health and Wellness Education Partners (HWeP). The University of Cincinnati is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Physicians | The University of Cincinnati designates this activity for a maximum of 6 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditsTM. Physicians should claim only the credits commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Learner Assurance Statement
The University of Cincinnati is committed to resolving all conflicts of interest issues that could arise as a result of prospective faculty members' significant relationships with drug or device manufacturer(s). The University of Cincinnati is committed to retaining only those speakers with financial interests that can be reconciled with the goals and educational integrity of the CME activity.

Disclaimer Statement
The opinions expressed during the activity are those of the faculty and do not necessarily represent the views of the University of Cincinnati. The information is presented for the purpose of advancing the attendees' professional development.

University of Cincinnati College of Nursing
Nurses | 6 continuing education contact hours for nurses approved by the Ohio Board of Nursing through the OBN Approver Unit at the University of Cincinnati College of Nursing (OBN-011-93).

American Academy of Family Physicians
This Enduring Material activity, Optimizing Primary Care for Patients with Rare Diseases, from 08/01/2016 - 07/31/2017, has been reviewed and is acceptable for up to 6 Prescribed credit(s) by the American Academy of Family Physicians. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

The program is accredited by the University of Cincinnati, the University of Cincinnati College of Nursing, and the American Academy of Family Physicians.

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