Archives of Internal Medicine Reader's Choice: Continuing Medical Education FREE

Physicians with current and valid licenses in the United States, Canada, or Mexico who read any 3 of the selected continuing medical education (CME) articles in this issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, complete the CME Evaluation Form, and fax it to the number or mail it to the address at the bottom of the CME Evaluation Form are eligible for Category 1 CME credit. There is no charge.

The American Medical Association (AMA) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to sponsor continuing medical education for physicians. The AMA designates this educational activity for up to 1 hour of Category 1 credit per Archives of Internal Medicine issue toward the AMA Physician's Recognition Award (PRA). Each physician should claim only those hours of credit that were actually spent in the educational activity.

Physicians with current and valid licenses in the United States, Mexico, or Canada are eligible for CME credit even if they live or practice in other countries. Physicians licensed in other countries are also welcome to participate in this CME activity. However, the PRA is only available to physicians licensed in the United States, Canada, or Mexico.

To earn credit, read the articles designated for CME credit carefully and complete the CME Evaluation Form. The CME Evaluation Form must be submitted within 4 weeks of the issue date. A certificate awarding 1 hour of Category 1 CME credit will be faxed or mailed to you; it is then your responsibility to maintain a record of credit received.

One of our goals is to assess continually the educational needs of our readers so we may enhance the educational effectiveness of the Archives of Internal Medicine. To achieve this goal, we need your help. You must complete the CME Evaluation Form to receive credit.

For a complete description of the ARCHIVES' mission statement, please refer to the table of contents.

A flexible curriculum of article topics is developed annually by the journal's editorial board and is then supplemented throughout the year with information gained from readers, authors, reviewers, and editors. The Reader's Choice CME activity allows readers, as adult learners, to determine their own educational needs and to assist the editors in addressing their needs in future issues.

Readers of the Archives of Internal Medicine should be able to attain the following educational objectives: (1) select and read at least 3 articles per issue to gain new medical information on topics of particular interest to them as physicians, (2) assess its value to them as practicing physicians, and (3) think carefully about how this new information may influence their own practices.

The following articles in this issue may be read for CME credit:

New Perspectives in the Management of Low Levels of High-Density Lipoprotein CholesterolArticle

Educational objective: To learn appropriate management of patients with low HDL-C.

Age at Natural Menopause and Risk of Cardiovascular DiseaseArticle

Educational objective: To learn that earlier menopause is associated with higher risk of coronary heart disease.

Difficult Patient Encounters in the Ambulatory ClinicArticle

Educational objective: To learn characteristics of patients that lead to difficult clinical encounters.

Nonfasting Plasma Total Homocysteine Levels and All-Cause and Cardiovascular Disease Mortality in Elderly Framingham Men and WomenArticle

Educational objective: To learn the relationship between plasma homocysteine levels and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality.

Diagnosing Pneumonia by Physical Examination: Relevant or Relic?Article

Educational objective: To learn critical signs of pneumonia.

Prosecutors and End-of-Life Decision MakingArticle

Educational objective: To learn the attitudes of prosecuting attorneys toward end-of-life actions by physicians.

Risk Factors for Stroke in Type 2 Diabetes MellitusArticle

Educational objective: To learn the risk factors for stroke in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Clustering of Metabolic Factors and Coronary Heart DiseaseArticle

Educational objective: To learn the significance of clusters of cardiovascular risk factors.

Lone Atrial Fibrillation in Elderly PersonsArticle

Educational objective: To learn that long atrial fibrillation in patients over 60 increases risk of transient ischemic attack, stroke and myocardial infarction.

Health and Economic Outcomes of Antibiotic Resistance inPseudomonas aeruginosaArticle

Educational objective: To learn the significance of antibiotic resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Community Physicians Who Provide Terminal CareArticle

Educational objective: To learn about terminal care by community physicians.