About the Virtual Lipid Preceptorship

Overview

The Virtual Lipid Preceptorship (VLP) is a series of three continuous quality improvement modules offering free self-study CME activities for clinicians who wish to improve the quality of healthcare delivery to patients at risk for coronary heart disease.

Throughout these modules, CME participants will conduct simple exercises in their practice to:

• assess their current performance;
• identify opportunities for improvement; and
• implement quality improvement (PDCA) cycles.

Participants will use the Lipid Practice Audit Tool in Modules 2 and 3 to measure the current performance of their practice as well as the impact of their improvements on key lipid management performance indicators.

Curriculum

• Module 1: An Introduction to Lipid Management and Continuous Improvement


• Module 2: Applying Continuous Quality Improvement Principles to Lipid Management


• Module 3: Addressing Common Barriers to Effective Lipid Management

Lipid Practice Audit Tool

Participants will use this online practice audit tool in Modules 2 and 3 to enter non-identifiable patient data on key CHD risk measurements in order to identify opportunities for practice improvement. Data are retained in a secure database and displayed whenever subsequent data is entered. By using this tool participants will be able to observe changes in practice performance and in patient healthcare indicators over time. Access to the audit tool is password protected. See our Confidentiality Statement.

Registration

CME participants will be invited to establish a user name and password when they complete the registration and evaluation forms for the activity, Getting Started in the Virtual Lipid Preceptorship in Module 1. The user name and password will be used to access Modules 2 and 3 and the Lipid Practice Audit Tool.

CME credit

CME participants will be issued credit certificates for completing the activities and using the Lipid Practice Audit Tool. Proof of participation - an online posttest or electronic submission of participant-developed materials - is required before a credit certificate is issued.

Library

The VLP Library contains a wide array of free downloadable materials and references that can improve knowledge and help implement practice improvements. See our Terms of Use.

Planning Committee

Christie M. Ballantyne, MD

Peter H. Jones, MD

Gregg Fonarow, MD

Kathy Berra, MSN, ANP, FAAN

Kimberly K. Birtcher, PMD

Educational Partners

Baylor College of Medicine is pleased to have the National Lipid Association and the Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association as educational partners in the Virtual Lipid Preceptorship.

National Lipid Association

The NLA, a non-profit professional organization, serves the community of health care professionals who manage patients with cardiovascular risk factors and lipid disorders. The mission of the NLA is to enhance the practice of lipid management in clinical medicine.

The NLA offers a lifelong learning program that paves the way for professional development and recognition of the distinct and specialized knowledge required of clinical lipid specialists and lipidologists. The NLA also provides training and exam preparation for those members seeking certification by the American Board of Clinical Lipidology or the Accreditation Council for Clinical Lipidology.

To become a member or to learn more about NLA activities, please visit www.lipid.org or call 904-998-0854.

Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association

The PCNA is the leading nursing organization dedicated to preventing cardiovascular disease through assessing risk, facilitating lifestyle changes, and guiding individuals to achieve treatment goals. Its mission is to promote nurses as leaders in cardiovascular risk reduction and disease management. To that end, the PCNA works to increase public and political awareness of the critical role nurses play in comprehensive cardiovascular risk reduction; offers opportunities for education and professional development for nurses; and promotes professional certification and development for nurses specializing in cardiovascular disease prevention and management.

The PCNA also promotes individual and community education in cardiovascular risk reduction and disease management across the lifespan, and utilization and dissemination of research and support evidence-based practice in cardiovascular risk reduction and disease management.

The PCNA publishes The Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing and numerous clinician and patient tools and materials. For information on joining the PCNA and benefits of membership please visit: http://www.pcna.net/membership. All healthcare professionals are welcome.

Acknowledgement of Support

The Virtual Lipid Preceptorship has been supported by unrestricted educational grants from Merck/Schering-Plough.