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Pharmacy Team Guide to GERD

Target Audience: Pharmacist

star star star star star_outline 3.8/5 based on 48 ratings
schedule 1.00 Contact Hours (0.10 CEUs)
category Disease State Management/Drug Therapy
local_activity Knowledge

Course Overview

Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, is one of the most common gastrointestinal diseases encountered by healthcare providers. The presentation of GERD can differ in patients, and new diagnostic modalities and approaches to patient management have evolved and changed in recent years. Pharmacists are accessible health providers that can assist patients in selecting optimal short-term GERD treatments. Pharmacists should be able to recognize GERD alarm symptoms and refer patients to their healthcare provider when appropriate. This continuing education course will provide a thorough review of the diagnosis and treatment of GERD, with a focus on nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic treatment strategies. Patient counseling points and tips for pharmacy technicians will also be discussed.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this educational activity, participants should be able to:

  • Describe the pathophysiology of gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD)
  • Recognize alarm symptoms of GERD
  • Identify nonpharmacologic strategies for the management of GERD
  • Describe possible interactions in individuals with GERD to refer to the pharmacist

Faculty

Authors & Activity Planners
L. Austin Fredrickson, MD, FACP
View Bio +
Dr. Fredrickson is an assistant professor of internal medicine at Northeast Ohio Medical University, where he serves as core faculty and teaches diagnostics, therapeutics, clinical skills, and health humanities. He is board-certified in general internal medicine and practices rural primary care.

I. Introduction

II. Etiology and Epidemiology

III. Pathogenesis

IV. Clinical Presentation and Diagnosis

A. Clinical Presentation
B. Diagnosis

V. Management Strategies for GERD

A. Nonpharmacologic (Lifestyle Changes)
B. Pharmacologic Strategies
C. Maintenance Therapy
D. Surgical and Endoscopic Interventions

VI. Tips for Pharmacy Technicians

VII. Clinical Pearls and Additional Resources Summary

VIII. Summary

From March 18, 2024 through March 18, 2027, participants must:

  1. Read the "learning objectives" and "author and planning team disclosures"
  2. Study the section entitled "educational activity"
  3. Complete the Course Test and Evaluation form. The Course Test will be graded automatically. Following successful completion of the Course Test with a score of 70% or higher, a statement of participation will be made available immediately. (No partial credit will be given.)

Credit for this course will be automatically uploaded to CPE Monitor®.

Faculty Planner Disclosure

The following individuals were involved in the development of this activity: L. Austin Fredrickson, MD, FACP, and Pamela Sardo, PharmD, BS. Pamela Sardo was an employee of Rhythm Pharmaceuticals until March 2022 and has no conflicts of interest or relationships regarding the subject matter discussed. There are no financial relationships or commercial or financial support relevant to this activity to report or disclose by RxCe.com or any of the individuals involved in the development of this activity.

Unlabeled Use Disclosure

The information provided in this course is general in nature and it is solely designed to provide participants with continuing education credit(s). This course and materials are not meant to substitute for the independent, professional judgment of any participant regarding that participant’s professional practice, including but not limited to patient assessment, diagnosis, treatment and/or health management. Medical and pharmacy practices, rules, and laws vary from state to state, and this course does not cover the laws of each state; therefore, participants must consult the laws of their state as they relate to their professional practice. Healthcare professionals, including pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, must consult with their employer, healthcare facility, hospital, or other organization, for guidelines, protocols, and procedures they are to follow. The information provided in this course does not replace those guidelines, protocols, and procedures but is for academic purposes only, and this course’s limited purpose is for the completion of continuing education credits. Participants are advised and acknowledge that information related to medications, their administration, dosing, contraindications, adverse reactions, interactions, warnings, precautions, or accepted uses are constantly changing, and any person taking this course understands that such person must make an independent review of medication information prior to any patient assessment, diagnosis, treatment and/or health management. Any discussion of off-label use of any medication, device, or procedure is informational only and such uses are not endorsed hereby. Nothing contained in this course represents the opinions, views, judgments, or conclusions of RxCe.com LLC. RxCe.com LLC is not liable or responsible to any person for any inaccuracy, error, or omission with respect to this course, or course material.

Please ensure the device you plan to use meets these requirements:

  • Operating System: Windows 7, 8, 10, or 11 / Mac OS X 10.9 or later / iOS / Android
  • Supported Browsers: Microsoft Edge, Firefox, Google Chrome, Safari, Opera
  • A connection to the internet

Accreditation

In support of improving patient care, RxCE.com 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.