This activity includes a Patient Perspective video.
Program Description
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive and fatal neuromuscular disease characterized by the degeneration of motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord. A mainstay of ALS treatment is to manage symptoms as the disease progresses and provide palliative care. While significant advances have led to a strong pipeline and new therapies, treatment decisions for ALS are often quite complex, and successful management involves a multitude of clinical and social factors. There is a critical need for pharmacists to be aware of the emerging treatments in order to improve access to new therapies for people with ALS. Pharmacists serve as the bridge between a patient and their pharmacotherapy and are the last step in the medication use process; thus, it is important that pharmacists remain up-to-date on new therapy approvals and recommendations to properly care for patients with ALS. This activity will help pharmacists stay knowledgeable regarding current, including recently approved, therapies for ALS and their efficacy and safety profiles, as well as the importance of taking a patients’ quality of life into consideration. This activity will also include a patient/caregiver perspective to provide insight into living with ALS as well as important points for pharmacists involved in the care of patients with ALS.
Target audience: Health-system pharmacists, retail pharmacists, and specialty pharmacists
Type of activity: Application
Release date: January 12, 2023
Expiration date: March 12, 2023
Time to complete activity: 1 hour
Fee: Free
Educational Objectives
At the completion of this activity, participants will be able to:
- Identify the pathophysiology, risk factors, and disease burden of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), including clinical manifestations and key health disparities
- Distinguish between current and recently approved treatment options for ALS, including their efficacy and safety profiles
- Examine the role of pharmacists in the management of ALS, including strategies for collaborating with prescribers and providing medication counseling to help improve patient outcomes
