The Consortium of Southeastern Hypertension Control is dedicated to reducing cardiovascular morbidity and mortality with the Southeastern United States through educational activities. COSEHC’s ability to reach this goal was enhanced in 2003 when COSEHC was accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) of the American Medical Association to provide Category 1 CME credit for physician’s educational programs. COSEHC CME programs are based on an annual and ongoing educational needs assessment of COSEHC members, national and regional cardiovascular problems, and information on the prevalence and management of cardiovascular disease within the region through the COSEHC web based database. This database describes the characteristics of patients with cardiovascular disease receiving care at one of the many COSEHC Cardiovascular Centers of ExcellenceTM. Two types of physician educational programs are developed from this information. Regional programs will deal with regional problems such as low hypertension control rates, best practice management approaches, and new information on pathophysiology, while Center specific programs will target unique educational needs identified from that Center’s patient population cardiovascular treatment needs. The database will also allow an objective measurement of the clinical impact of the educational programs by measuring the changes that occur in patient care after the educational program. The COSEHC CME program promises to offer an excellent tool for effecting change in cardiovascular care within the Southeast.

Suggestions for future COSEHC CME programs and comments concerning the COSEHC CME programs are encouraged and welcome through this site.

Michael A. Moore, MD
Director Medical Education
COSEHC