Needs Statement

Organ shortage is the greatest challenge facing the field of organ transplantation today. Progressive expansion in the selection criteria has been advocated to address the shortage. This course is designed to close the gap in clinical practice by improving physician knowledge and competence to be able to recognize end stage organ failure and the need for transplant evaluation.

Heart transplantation is a treatment option that extends hope to patients with irreversible advanced heart failure by offering a better quality of life and overall survival. Over the past three decades, there has been tremendous improvement in the care of heart transplant recipients leading to longer median survival times. However, there remains underutilization of donor hearts due to a variety of reasons. This CME program will provide an update on donor selection, novel strategies to increase the donor pool including ex-vivo heart perfusion, donation after circulatory death, extended criteria donors as well as an update on the latest candidate selection guidelines.

Target Audience

Internal Medicine, Primary Care, Pulmonologists, Cardiologists, Hepatologists, Gastroenterologists, Nephrologists, APPs, Registered Nurses, Medical Students and Fellows.

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of the conference, participants should be able to:

• Recognize end stage organ disease in patients waiting for transplant.
• Summarize recent advances in improving outcomes associated with the use of higher risk organs
• Compare and Contrast outcomes of transplantation with extended criteria organs to outcomes associated with not undergoing transplant.

Educational Methods

Lecture, Case Study, Panel Discussion

Activity Evaluation

Evaluation by questionnaire will address program content, presentation, and possible bias.

Accreditation/Credit Designation

Baylor College of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Baylor College of Medicine designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.