OVERVIEW

Hyponatremia is the most common electrolyte disorder in clinical practice and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Yet, t many questions associated with  the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of this condition for  hospitalized patients, in both inpatient and discharge settings. Is hyponatremia a direct cause of poor outcomes or a marker of disease severity? What role does the cause of hyponatremia play in patient outcomes? Does the situational acuity affect treatment options? At what rate should serum sodium be corrected? What role do AVP receptor antagonists (vaptans) play in managing hyponatremia in hospitalized patients? This activity addresses these questions and many others via video case studies presented by several leading experts in the field. This activity will help hospitalists become vigilant in recognizing hyponatremia upon admission, cognizant of hospital-acquired or aggravated hyponatremia, and the most appropriate ways of managing it based on patient-specific factors and causes.

GOAL

This interactive web-based activity will help hospitalists become vigilant in recognizing hyponatremia upon admission, cognizant of hospital-acquired or aggravated hyponatremia, and the most appropriate ways of managing it based on patient-specific factors and causes. It will also provide clinical professionals who treat and manage hospitalized patients with hyponatremia with the most up-to-date and current data in order to improve patient outcomes.

TARGET AUDIENCE

This activity has been designed to meet the educational needs of hospitalists and other internal medicine providers at hospitals who are involved in the perioperative care of patients with hyponatremia. 

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

After completing the module, the participant will demonstrate the ability to:

• Recognize the clinical diversity of hyponatremia in the hospital setting.
• Diagnose hyponatremia according to etiology and pathophysiology.
• Formulate treatment plans for correcting hyponatremia based on disease- and patient-specific factors.

CME INFORMATION

Accreditation Statement:
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 Virginia School of Medicine ASiM and the Society of Hospital Medicine. The University of Virginia School of Medicine is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Credit Designation Statement:
The University of Virginia School of Medicine designates this enduring material for a maximum of .5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Release date: May 30, 2015.  Expiration date: May 30, 2018. 

Estimated time to complete activity: 30 minutes

FACULTY & FACULTY DISCLOSURES

Full Disclosure Policy Affecting CME Activities:
The University of Virginia School of Medicine, as an ACCME accredited provider, endorses and strives to comply with the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) Standards of Commercial Support, Commonwealth of Virginia statutes, University of Virginia policies and procedures, and associated federal and private regulations and guidelines on the need for disclosure and monitoring of proprietary and financial interests that may affect the scientific integrity and balance of content delivered in continuing medical education activities under our auspices.

The University of Virginia School of Medicine requires that all CME activities accredited through this institution be developed independently and be scientifically rigorous, balanced and objective in the presentation/discussion of its content, theories and practices.

All faculty presenters participating in an accredited CME activity are expected to disclose relevant financial relationships with commercial entities occurring within the past 12 months (such as grants or research support, employee, consultant, stock holder, member of speakers bureau, etc.). The University of Virginia School of Medicine will employ appropriate mechanisms to resolve potential conflicts of interest to maintain the standards of fair and balanced education to the participant. Questions about specific strategies can be directed to the Office of Continuing Medical Education, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia.

The faculty and staff of the University of Virginia Office of Continuing Medical Education have no financial affiliations to disclose.

PARTICIPATING FACULTY

Leonard Feldman, MD, FACP, SFHM (Co-Chair)
Associate Professor of Medicine
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Med-Peds Urban Health Residency Program Director
Associate Program Director, Osler Medical Residency
Director, Comprehensive General Medicine Consult Service
Editor, Consultative, and Perioperative Medicine Essentials for Hospitalists
Baltimore, Maryland
Dr Feldman reports having no significant financial or advisory relationships with corporate organizations related to this activity.

Kurt Pfeifer, MD, FACP (Co-Chair)
Associate Professor of Medicine
General Internal Medicine
Associate Program Director
Internal Medicine Residency
Medical College of Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Dr Pfeifer reports having no significant financial or advisory relationships with corporate organizations related to this activity.

Mitchell H. Rosner, MD, FACP
Henry B. Mulholland Professor of Medicine Chairman
Department of Medicine
University of Virginia
Health System
Charlottesville, Virginia
Dr Rosner reports serving as a consultant for Johnson & Johnson and Otsuka.

Clint T. Merritt, MD
Director of the Hospitalist Program
Division of General Internal Medicine
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia
Dr Merritt reports having no significant financial or advisory relationships with corporate organizations related to this activity.

Disclosure of Discussion of Non-FDA–Approved Uses for Pharmaceutical Products and/or Medical Devices
The University of Virginia School of Medicine, as an ACCME provider, requires that all faculty presenters identify and disclose any off-label uses for pharmaceutical and medical device products. The University of Virginia School of Medicine recommends that each physician fully review all the available data on new products or procedures prior to clinical use.

Off-Label Product Discussion:
All faculty have indicated that they have not referenced unlabeled or unapproved uses of drugs or devices.

SHM CONFLICT OF INTEREST DISCLOSURE POLICY

In accordance with the ACCME Standards for Commercial Support, SHM requires that individuals in a position to control the content of an educational activity disclose all relevant financial relationships with any commercial interest. SHM resolves all conflicts of interest to ensure independence, objectivity, balance, and scientific rigor in all its educational programs. All relevant financial relationships shall be disclosed to participants prior to the start of the activity.

Furthermore, SHM seeks to verify that all scientific research referred to, reported, or used in a continuing medical education (CME) activity conforms to the generally accepted standards of experimental design, data collection, and analysis. SHM is committed to providing its learners with high-quality CME activities that promote improvements in healthcare and not those of a commercial interest.

DISCLAIMER

The opinions and recommendations expressed by faculty and other experts whose input is included in this program are their own. This enduring material is produced for educational purposes only. Use of the University of Virginia School of Medicine name implies review of educational format design and approach. Please review the complete prescribing information of specific drugs or combination of drugs, including indications, contraindications, warnings, and adverse effects before administering pharmacologic therapy to patients.

This activity is supported by an independent educational grant from Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.