Guests: $1,299
Members: $799
50
Course
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The Cardiovascular Essentials for Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) course is designed to streamline onboarding for APPs newly entering cardiology practice and standardize APP knowledge across an organization. Through structured instruction, case-based learning and evidence-based practice guidance, learners will develop or strengthen foundational competency in cardiovascular diagnosis, clinical decision-making and guideline-directed management. Emphasis is placed on risk stratification, high-yield physical examination, interpretation of common diagnostics, and development of safe and effective treatment strategies. The course promotes patient-centered care, interprofessional collaboration and critical thinking to prepare clinicians for real-world cardiology practice across inpatient and outpatient settings.
The course incorporates video, readings and online learning to cover these essential topics:
For APPs: This curriculum is designed to accelerate onboarding into clinical cardiology by building core competency in cardiovascular pathophysiology, presentation patterns, diagnostic evaluation and guideline-directed therapy. Learners will strengthen clinical reasoning and decision-making across common inpatient and outpatient scenarios and gain confidence translating didactic knowledge into safe, evidence-based patient care.
For Employers of APPs: This curriculum provides a structured, scalable framework to support APP onboarding and professional development while promoting consistent baseline knowledge and practice standards across your organization. It can be used to reinforce on-the-job learning, align teams on evidence-based care, and help assess competency progression over time.
Faculty
Jerry Blackwell, MD, MBA, FACC
Nicole Knight, LPN, CPC, CCS-P
Maureen Knechtel, MPAS, PA-C
Maureen A. Knechtel, MPAS, PA-C, received a bachelor’s degree in health sciences and a master’s in physician assistant studies from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA. She has spent her clinical career specializing in general cardiology and cardiac electrophysiology. She teaches EKG interpretation to physician assistants and nurse practitioners. She has been a guest lecturer nationally and locally on topics including EKG interpretation, chronic angina, ischemic heart disease in women, hypertension and mixed hyperlipidemia. Knechtel is a fellow member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants and the Tennessee Academy of Physician Assistants and currently serves as academic coordinator and associate professor with the Milligan University Physician Assistant Program in northeast Tennessee.
Each lesson includes a didactic presentation that provides the content for that week’s focus. The course is to be completed at the student’s own pace within a 12-month period. Enrollment begins on the date of purchase.
This is a pass/fail course based on completing the material. Students must pass an exam (80 percent or above) at the end of the course and complete an evaluation feedback survey to receive a certificate of completion.
Internet access to include audio and visual.
Links for all reading materials will be provided for each module.
Braunwald’s Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine 13th ed.
EKGs for the Nurse Practitioner and Physician Assistant 4th ed.
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 International Institute for Continuing Medical Education and MedAxiom. International Institute for Continuing Medical Education is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
International Institute for Continuing Medical Education designates the blended format for this educational activity for a maximum of 50.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should only
claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. Blended activity dates:
April 30, 2026 – April 30, 2029
Other Healthcare Professionals:
Nurse Practitioners and Registered Nurses
The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) accepts AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ from organizations accredited by the ACCME. Visit the ANCC’s website for more information.
Pharmacists
Different state boards of pharmacy have different requirements for continuing education. Some accept CME credit, while others accept only ACPE-approved CPE (continuing pharmacy education) credit. Please refer to your state board of pharmacy to find out if CME is accepted. Please note that all final decisions about credit hour acceptance will be made by the licensing organization to which the credit hours are submitted.
Physician Assistants
NCCPA accepts AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ from organizations accredited by ACCME or a recognized state medical society.
Financial Disclosures
All faculty, planners, reviewers, or staff report no relationships to disclose:
“I do not have at present nor have had within the last 24 months, any financial relationships with ineligible companies.”
iiCME adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CME/CE activity, including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others are required to disclose all financial relationships with ineligible entities
(commercial interests). All relevant conflicts of interest will be mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity.
This activity may include discussion of investigational or off-label uses of products or devices. International Institute for Continuing Medical Education does not endorse or promote the use of any product or device outside of its approved indications.
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