Enduring Material: Improving Blood Pressure Control, Geisinger Hypertension Conference

This is a recording of the in-person educational activity held in March 2025. Improving Blood Pressure Control in 2025, Geisinger Hypertension Conference covers key topics in hypertension management, discusses updates and best practices for improving blood pressure control rates at the health system level. Through didactic lectures and case-based discussions hypertension experts from Geisinger and other institutions discuss key topics and share best practices for diagnosis and management of hypertension, with the goal of improving blood pressure control in various clinical situations. This activity is relevant to primary care providers, specialists involved in the care of patients with hypertension as well as to pharmacists, and advanced providers.

Target Audience

This activity is designed for physicians, physician assistants, and nurses.  Other learner groups such as dietitians, pharmacists, residents, fellows, nursing students, and physician assistant students would also benefit from this education. 

Learning Objectives

At the completion of this course, the participant should be able to:

  • describe the current state of hypertension control at Geisinger
  • describe the current guidelines for the diagnosis and management of hypertension
  • identify and leverage health systems available at Geisinger to aid clinicians in management of hypertension
  • identify and refer early patients with resistant hypertension
  • discuss device-based therapies for the management of resistant hypertension
Refund Policy
A full refund will be given for any cancellations received up to one week prior to the course.  No refunds for no-shows. 
 
Course Cancellation Policy
In the unusual circumstance that this course is cancelled, you will be called and/or emailed, and any tuition fees received would be refunded in full.  Geisinger is not responsible for any airfare, hotel or other costs incurred.
 
Attendance
Attendance will be recorded within three to four days of the conclusion of the activity.  Credit will display on your continuing education transcript once the activity evaluation is completed.  
    Course summary
    Available credit: 
    • 6.00 AAPA Category I CME
    • 6.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
    • 6.00 ANCC
    • 6.00 Participation Credit
    Course opens: 
    05/14/2025
    Course expires: 
    05/14/2027
    Cost:
    $50.00
    Rating: 
    0
    Content
     
    Welcome and Introductions
    Ion D. Bucaloiu, MD
     
    State of Hypertension at Geisinger/Guidelines
    Alexander Chang, MD
     
    Improving BP Control at Geisinger:  What is the Low Hanging Fruit? (Out of office BP Measurements, 130 is the next 140, starting 2 meds, starting young, resistant HTN, BP variability: The younger the better)
    Samuel Gidding, MD
     
    Guidelines Driven HTN Management in 2024
    Sandra Taler, MD
     
    Question and Answer, Cases (Young Patient with HTN) and Panel Discussion
    Stacy Andersen, MD; Samual Gidding, MD; Jodie Reider, MD and Sandra Taler, MD
     
    HTN in CKD an Update for the Community Health Care Providers
    Stacy Andersen, MD
     
    Clinician Level Blood Pressure Control Rates - Leveraging Geisinger’s Available Toolkit
    Keith Boell, DO
     
    Remote Management of HTN Pharmacy Programs
    Leann Webster, RPh, CDCES, MBA
     
    Question and Answer, Case Panel Discussion (Multiple Drug Therapy Instead of 1, Multidisciplinary Care)
    Atul Bali, MD; Stacy Andersen, MD; Alexander Chang, MD; Jason George, DO; Allison Naylor, RDN; Sandra Taler, MD and Leann Webster, PharmD
     
    Hypertension Urgencies and Emergencies, Best Practices, Management, and Guidelines
    Atul Bali, MD
     
    CDC – Luzerne County HTN Efforts
    Annemarie Hirsch, MD
     
    Approach to Resistant Hypertension. (Including Correctable Forms of HTN)
    Sandra Taler, MD
     
    What is New in HTN Management - Device Therapy
    Nicholas Ierovante, DO
     
    What is New in HTN Management - New Drugs
    Alexander Chang, MD
     
    Question and Answer, Panel Discussion – Hyperaldosteronism, Resistant HTN (Misdiagnosed Hyperaldosteronism Case)
    Atul Bali, MD; Ion D. Bucaloiu, MD; Rashid Cheema, MD; Annemarie Hirsch, MD; Nicholas Ierovante, DO and Sandra Taler, MD
     
    Closing Remarks
    Ion D. Bucaloiu, MD
     
    Guest Faculty
    Sandra Taler, MD
    Consultant, Division of Nephrology & Hypertension, Department of Internal Medicine
    Professor of Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science
    Mayo Clinic Rochester
    Rochester, MN
     
    Geisinger Faculty
    Stacy Andersen, MD
    Director, Nephrology
    Geisinger Medical Clinic Scenery Park
     
    Atul Bali, MD
    Associate, Nephrology
    Geisinger Wyoming Valley
     
    Keith Boell, DO
    Chief Quality Officer, Population Initiatives
    Geisinger Medical Center
     
    Ion D. Bucaloiu, MD
    Activity Director
    Associate, Nephrology
    Geisinger Medical Center
     
    *Alexander Chang, MD
    Associate, Nephrology
    Geisinger Medical Center
     
    Rashid Cheema, MD
    Physician Endocrinology
    Geisinger Medical Center
     
    *Jason George, DO
    Associate, Nephrology
    Geisinger Medical Center
     
    Samuel Gidding, MD
    Professor, Genomic Medicine Department
    Geisinger Medical Center
     
    Brittany Grubb, CRNP
    Nurse Practitioner Nephrology
    Geisinger Medical Center
     
    *Annemarie Hirsch, MD
    Associate Professor, Population Health Sciences
    Geisinger Medical Center
     
    Anh Ho, PA-C
    Physician Assistant Nephrology
    Geisinger Medical Center
     
    Nicholas Ierovante, DO
    Associate, Interventional Cardiology
    Geisinger Community Medical Center
     
    Allison Naylor, RD
    Clinica Dietitian, Nutrition and Weight Management
    Geisinger Medical Center
     
    Jodie Reider, MD
    Physician Endocrinology
    Geisinger Medical Center
     
    Leann Webster, RPh
    Director, Pharmacy Services
    Geisinger Medical Center
     
    Content Disclosure
    The faculty has attested that their presentations and/or content are HIPAA compliant.  
     
    *These individuals disclosed a financial relationship(s) as listed below. Otherwise, these individuals have no financial relationships to disclose. 
     
    CE Committee Members/Content Reviewer(s) have disclosed no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests. 
    Melissa Olsommer, PharmD, BCPS, Colleen Strouse, PharmD, Rebecca Boop, DNP, RN; Robert Cooney, MD, MSMedEd, FACEP; Roxanna Larsen, MS, LAT, ATC; Tammy McCormick, RDN; April Morgan, EdD; Alison Mowery, DNP, CRNP; Michaelyn Notz, DO; Dean Parry, RPh; Katie Ritz, BS, RRT-NPS; Gale Shalongo, DNP, MSN, RN, ACNS, BC; Kelly Ryan Shaw, PsyD; Natalie Stinton, DMD; Rebecca Stoudt, DNP, PhD, CRNA; Jeffrey Summers, DO; Karen Tillotson, PA-C, DHSc; Thomas Urosevich, OD and Laurie Wallace, BS, RRT-NPS
     
     

    *These individuals disclosed a financial relationship(s) as listed below: 

     Financial Relationships with Ineligible Companies
    Alexander Chang, MD - Research Grant: Novartis; Boehringer-Ingelheim and Bayer
    Jason George, DO - Consultant/Advisor and Speakers Bureau: Amgen
    Annemarie Hirsch, MD - Research Grant: Moderna
     
    *Any/All relevant financial relationships have been mitigated.  
     
     

    Accreditation 

    In support of improving patient care, Geisinger College of Health Sciences 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.

     

     

     

    Credit Designation 

    Geisinger College of Health Sciences designates this enduring material for a maximum of 6 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the educational activity. 

    Geisinger College of Health Sciences designates this enduring material for 6 contact hours for nurses. Nurses should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the educational activity. 

    Geisinger College of Health Sciences has been authorized by the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 6 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. Approval is valid until May 14, 2027. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation. 

     

    Disclosure Policy 

    Faculty and all others who have the ability to control the content of continuing education activity sponsored by Geisinger College of Health Sciences must disclose to the program audience whether they do or do not have any real or apparent conflict(s) of interest or other relationships related to the content of their presentation(s). 

    Disclaimer

    This Geisinger continuing education activity is designed for use by healthcare professionals for educational purposes only.  Information and opinions offered by the contributors represent their viewpoints.  Conclusions drawn by the participant should be derived from careful consideration of all available scientific information. Prescription information and use of medical devices should be undertaken only after confirmation by consulting the FDA-approved uses and information.

    While Geisinger makes every effort to have accurate information presented, no warranty, expressed or implied, is offered.  The participant should use his/her clinical judgment, knowledge, experience, and diagnostic decision-making before applying any information whether provided here or by others, for any professional use.
     

    Terms of Approval

    May 14, 2025 - May 14, 2027

    Original release date

    May 14, 2027

    Peer Review

    On April 16, 2025, this continuing education online material was reviewed by Melissa Olsommer, PharmD. To ensure the scientific relevance of this enduring material, its contents will be reviewed again in May 2027. 

    On April 16, 2025, this continuing education online material was reviewed by Colleen Strouse, PharmD. To ensure the scientific relevance of this enduring material, its contents will be reviewed again in May 2027. 

    Available Credit

    • 6.00 AAPA Category I CME
    • 6.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
    • 6.00 ANCC
    • 6.00 Participation Credit

    Price

    Cost:
    $50.00
    Please login or register to take this course.

    This course is free for Geisinger affiliates.