The Duke University Health System Department of Clinical Education and Professional Development and TotalCME, Inc., in collaboration with the Society for Vascular Medicine and Vascular Cures, has published an accredited, microlearning educational program that profiles the Duke School of Medicine’s innovative approach to improving health equity through vascular health.

Cardiologists, vascular medicine specialists, vascular surgeons, pharmacists and nurses play pivotal roles in coordinating peripheral artery disease and coronary artery disease (PAD/CAD) care, particularly among underdiagnosed and underserved patient populations. Aligning vascular care continuity among all treatment providers, say the faculty presenters, must be established upfront.

Through seven short video episodes available on the MedEd On The Go educational platform, leaders from Duke present practical approaches and clinical practice changes that can lead to better diagnosis, treatment and management and secondary event prevention among these at-risk patients. Viewers hear panel discussion about applying the new approaches to viewers’ own institutions as well as a fascinating case study that illustrates typical challenges and opportunities. View the first episode here.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) and peripheral artery disease (PAD) are chronic progressive cardiovascular (CV) diseases that are subject to an elevated risk of secondary thrombotic events, associated with various atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases. The asymptomatic nature of PAD is worrisome, not only because of the sheer nature of patients who report as such (50%), but it serves as a risk for progressive atherosclerotic disease. A lack of disease recognition and diagnosis is the first barrier to optimal prevention strategies. Throughout the continuum of CAD/PAD, multiple, diverse providers are involved in the patient’s care. The inherent challenge is the variability and approaches surrounding how to best manage patients. Managing patients appropriately is critical to lowering the elevated risk for subsequent CV events, especially in underdiagnosed and underserved patient populations.