Understand why agitation is such an important concept (in terms of being an emergency medical condition as well as its role in patient suffering) and investigate proper framing and engagement for interacting with those suffering from agitation.  This will include an overview of de-escalation principles as well as psychological first aid and trauma centered processing. The next portion of the webinar will then focus on the psychopharmacologic treatment of agitation.  We will cover not only the usual suspects (antipsychotics, anxiolytics, and sedatives) but also more recent offerings to the field (ketamine, anesthetics, and unique delivery systems). The webinar will then conclude with practical approaches to not only using these methods but also for gaining momentum within one's organization as to this culture shift. At this point, we can then conclude with how the proper treatment of agitation (both proactive and reactive) leads to improvements in both our patients and the staff who care for them with dedication and empathy.

Format

Live interactive webinar

Learning Objectives

• Incorporate into your protocols why the treatment of agitation is important in all venues of care.
• Formulate why the appropriate treatment of agitation not only eases patient suffering but also improves the quality of life for health care professionals.
• Examine the evidence-based recommendations (Project BETA) for psychopharmacological options, including newer formulations being used in both emergency rooms and community settings.

Target Audience

Counselor, Nurse/Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatrist, Psychologist, Pharmacist, Social Worker, Physician (non-psychiatrist), Physician Assistant

Instructional Level

Introductory, Intermediate

Estimate Time to Complete

Estimated Duration: 1.0 hour
Program Start Date: June 9, 2023
Program End Date: June 9, 2023

Attendees will have an opportunity to participate in Q&A.

How to Earn Credit

Participants who wish to earn AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™, nursing continuing professional development contact hours (NCPD, formerly CNE), CE credit for psychologists, CE credit for social workers, or a certificate of participation may do so by viewing the live presentation and completing the evaluation. Participants claiming CE credit for psychologists and those claiming CE credit for Social workers, must have full attendance to claim credit. After evaluating the program, course participants will be provided with an opportunity to claim hours of participation and print an official CME certificate (physicians), CE certificate (psychologists), CE certificate (social workers) or certificate of participation (other disciplines) showing the event date and hours earned.

Continuing Education Credit

In support of improving patient care, the American Psychiatric Association 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 healthcare team. 

Physicians

The APA designates this live event for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. 

Psychologists

Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs.

Nurses/Nurse Practitioners

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) designates this activity for 1.0 Nursing contact hours. Nurses should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Social Workers

As a Jointly Accredited Organization, American Psychiatric Association (APA) is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. APA maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive 1.0 social work continuing education credits.

Continuing education requirements vary from state to state. Many state boards grant reciprocity with national accrediting organizations and other state boards. It is the responsibility of each professional to understand the requirements for license renewal or check with the state or national licensing board and/or professional organization to become more familiar with their policies for acceptable continuing education credit. Social workers and Psychologists should contact their regulatory board to determine course approval.

Faculty and Planner Disclosures

The American Psychiatric Association adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Medical Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CME activity — including faculty, planners, reviewers or others — are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (commercial interests). All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity.

Instructors

Tony Thrasher, DO, DFAPA is a board-certified psychiatrist employed as the medical director for the Crisis Services branch of the Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division.  He received his psychiatric training from Washington University in St. Louis at Barnes Jewish Hospital, and he is the Immediate Past President of the American Association for Emergency Psychiatry (AAEP). He is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association (APA), and he currently serves as the President Elect for the Wisconsin Psychiatric Association (WPA) as well as the President for the Wisconsin Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons (WAOPS). Dr. Thrasher reports no financial relationships with commercial interests.

Planners

• Teri Brister, PhD, LPC, National Alliance on Mental Illness. Dr. Brister has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
• Amy Cohen, PhD, American Psychiatric Association. Dr. Cohen has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
• John Torous, MD, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Dr. Torous has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
• Sherin Khan, LCSW, Thresholds. Ms. Khan has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
• Kathryn Hanley, RN, LPA, PMHNP-BC University of Texas at Austin. Ms. Hanley reports no financial relationships with commercial interests.

Accessibility for Participants with Disabilities

The American Psychiatric Association is committed to ensuring accessibility of its website to people with disabilities. Please contact the American Psychiatric Association at 202-559-3900, if you require assistance seven (7) business days prior to the start of a live webinar.

Technical Requirements

This internet-based CME activity is best experienced using any of the following:

• The latest and 2nd latest public versions of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Safari
• Internet Explorer 11+

This Web site requires that JavaScript and session cookies be enabled. Certain activities may require additional software to view multimedia, presentation, or printable versions of the content. These activities will be marked as such and will provide links to the required software. That software may be: Adobe Acrobat Reader, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Windows Media Player.

Optimal System Configuration:

• Browser: Google Chrome (latest and 2nd latest version), Safari (latest and 2nd latest version), Internet Explorer 11.0+, Firefox (latest and 2nd latest version), or Microsoft Edge (latest and 2nd latest version)
• Operating System: Windows versions 8.1+, Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) +, Android (latest and 2nd latest version), or iOS/iPad OS (latest and 2nd latest version)
• Internet Connection: 1 Mbps or higher

Minimum Requirements:

• Windows PC: Windows 8.1 or higher; 1 GB (for 32-bit)/2 GB (for 64-bit) or higher RAM; Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM driver; audio playback with speakers for programs with video content
• Macintosh: Mac OS X 10.5 or higher with latest updates installed; Intel, PowerPC G5, or PowerPC G4 (867MHz or faster) processor; 512 MB or higher RAM; audio playback with speakers for programs with video content

For assistance: Contact educme@psych.org for questions about this activity | Contact SMIadviserhelp@psych.org for technical assistance