Professional Education & ECHO MS

Personalized Approach to Preventing COVID-19 in the Immunocompromised 

On March 3, 2022 the National MS Society and Consortium of MS Centers hosted an expert-led virtual discussion on tailoring COVID-19 prevention strategies to the needs of each patient. Discussion topics included the role of personalized vaccine schedules, pre-exposure prophylactics and the role of biomarkers in clinical decision making.   

Listen to the recording here

From pandemic to endemic: How do the immunocompromised live with SARS-CoV-2

On February 17, 2022 the National MS Society and Consortium of MS Centers hosted an expert-led virtual discussion on post-pandemic life, what that means for the general population and the implications for those who are immunocompromised.

Listen to the recording here

ECHO MS increases the capacity of neurologists to diagnose and manage patients with multiple sclerosis.  The program establishes an innovative peer-to-peer professional knowledge sharing network through a six month 12 CE cohort.

Recent opportunities have been made available to MS healthcare providers to better understand and address health inequities and social determinants of health in clinical care. The National MS Society has a vetted collection of programs that highlight health equity strategy implementation, further describe unmet needs in MS and provide a scoping review of health equity.

National MS Society Program:

Cultural Competency and Implicit Bias

Presented by:
Lilyana Amezcua, MD- USC                                          
Mitzi Joi Williams, MD-  Joi Life Wellness Group Multiple Sclerosis Center

Additional relevant articles:

• Perceptions and Preferences Regarding Multiple Sclerosis Research Among Racial and Ethnic Groups- International Journal of MS Care, 2021
• Conscious & Unconscious Biases in Health Care- Georgetown University National Center for Cultural Competency
• Training Culturally Competent Direct Care Workers: Key Considerations for Long-Term Services and Support Workers- Resources for Integrated Care

CME Programs:

• Prime - Achieving Health Equity in Multiple Sclerosis: Expert Strategies for Delivering Evidence-Based, Patient-Centered Care
• All Roads Lead to Change: Addressing Unmet Needs in the African American MS Community Web Activity
• Health Equity CME, to include training on:
  • Health Equity: Leading the Change
  • LGBTQ+ Patient Care
  • Power to Heal: Medicare and the Civil Rights Town Hall
  • Social Determinants of Health
  • Weight Bias

The Consortium of MS Centers (CMSC) is the leading organization for multidisciplinary MS professional education in North America. We are excited to partner with the CMSC on several professional education activities. In addition, we are pleased to provide a link to the official journal of the CMSC, the International Journal on MS Care, a peer-reviewed international publication focusing on multiple sclerosis and related autoimmune disorders of the central nervous system. Every issue of the International Journal on MS Care has one article which offers free CE credit.

The National MS Society provides a variety of professional education opportunities for healthcare providers. See below for a comprehensive list and visit our professional education calendar to view upcoming virtual, online and in-person events. Offerings with CME/CE are noted below and on the calendar.

Follow us on Twitter for educational event updates!  @mssocietyhcp

A collaboration between the VA MS Centers of Excellence and the National MS Society. This CME/CE webinar series provides a free, accessible educational opportunity for health care clinicians involved in the care of patients with MS with the aim of improving MS knowledge and patient outcomes.

Bi-monthly (every other month) interactive discussion calls for the education, information and engagement of mental health professionals working with individuals and families living with MS. View the details here. 

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society and the United States Network for Pediatric MS Centers invite you to a monthly Difficult Case Webinar to discuss difficult cases of pediatric MS or other suspected demyelinating diseases. Click here to learn more.

Join healthcare professionals for networking and lively discussions on diagnostic dilemmas, treatment decisions, and MS hot topics. Share your cases and thoughts in an informal setting that includes a multidisciplinary approach.

Upcoming calls:
March 24, 2022, 6:00 PM PST - Updates in Rehab Equipment
June 21, 2022, 6:00 PM PST - General Updates in MS

For questions about this event, other MS Society Resources, or to submit a case for discussion; email Molly Palmer at molly.palmer@nmss.org. 

More information and registration is located here.
 

People of all races, genders, ethnicities and sexual orientations live with MS. This free virtual CE course is taught by psychologists who are recognized for their expertise in MS, disability and integrative healthcare. This training is for licensed mental health professionals with an emphasis is on culturally sensitive interventions to increase resiliency and enable clients to better self-manage and more fully participate in their healthcare and family, community and work life.
 
To learn more - here is the recording, here is the supportive slide deck, and here is a resource list for supportive learnings and patient resources that might be helpful in your practice as aid to the presentation.

To earn 3.0 CEU (Psychologists, Social Workers, and mental health professionals) complete this evaluation and email Andrea Arzt at andrea.arzt@nmss.org to assist with CE certificate.

This free virtual CE course is for physical, occupational and speech therapists looking to gain a better understanding of the unique needs of patients living with MS. Prior to the course, participants should view the prerequisite covering the basics of MS, Multiple Sclerosis and Rehabilitation: A Comprehensive Approach to Care. 

This course will consist of two sessions:

• Experience of the Patient - Gain a better understanding of barriers to care, complexity of symptoms, impact on diverse populations, and unique challenges young adults face. 
  • Here is the recording, here are the supporting slides, and here are supportive links mentioned throughout your experience. To earn .10 CE (available for PT, OT)  – Please complete this pre-test, post-test, evaluation and email Suzanne Carron at Suzanne.carron@nmss.org to assist with CE certificate.
• The Role of Rehabilitation in Improving Brain Health - Understanding how health and wellness in conjunction with rehabilitation improves and maintains the brain health of individuals living with MS. 
  • Here is the recording, here are the supporting slides, and here are the supportive links mentioned throughout your experience. To earn .10 CE (available for PT, OT) – Please complete this pre-test, post-test, evaluation and email Suzanne Carron at Suzanne.carron@nmss.org to assist with CE certificate.

View the learning objectives and privacy policy for this program.

MS and Rehabilitation: A Comprehensive Approach to Care is an on-demand webinar series targeted to rehabilitation providers (OTs, PTs, SLPs). The rehabilitation series covers MS pathophysiology, medical management, and symptom management of the disease, rehabilitation neurological assessment and intervention and recommended exercises, and an overview of the National MS Society and related community resources. 

This course is a resource for fitness and wellness professionals, including aquatics instructors, yoga teachers, personal trainers and other professionals who want to learn more about MS. It provides an overview of the disease and offers specific strategies for working with a diverse MS population. Access the course here.

An opportunity for fellows across the country to present cases and receive feedback from other fellows and renowned faculty. Visit our Clinical Fellows page to learn more.

The Regional MS Summit is designed for healthcare providers involved in MS management. The course is focused on basic underlying concepts and symptom management of MS, with the goal of optimizing patient management and outcomes. Saturday, May 21, 8am-4:15pm PDT. 6.75 Category 1 CME. Free webinar, $25 for CE certificate. Click here to register.

The National MS Society partnered with the International Organization of MS Nurses (IOMSN) to provide a comprehensive multiple sclerosis nursing update exploring concepts underlying clinical practice of an MS nurse and study reference materials and preparatory resources. Presented by Amy Gilbert, RN, MSCN of The Schapiro Center for Multiple Sclerosis® and IOMSN Midwest Regional Liaison. Download the recording here.

The October 27, 2020 webinar recording of Biomarkers of Neurodegeneration can be viewed here.