Curriculum for Life
Physician Education
Nurse Education

Curriculum for Life

As the industry leader in implantable pain management technologies, Medtronic has developed a comprehensive curriculum to meet clinicians’ educational needs at all stages of their professional development. The Curriculum for Life provides a continuum of learning opportunities for physicians involved in treating and managing chronic pain patients. Medtronic conducts a number of non-accredited courses as well as accredited sessions sponsored through professional associations. Please consult your Medtronic representative for information on course availability or contact the professional associations listed below for information on practical clinics.

If you have not worked with Medtronic before, please call 1-800-328-0810 and your Medtronic representative will contact you.

[Top]

Physician Education

Interventional Pain Management for Pain Fellows

This two-day course introduces pain fellows to implantable technology during the early stages of their training in an accredited pain fellowship program. The course includes a comprehensive overview of the theory and practice of chronic pain management with a focus on Medtronic Pain Therapies. Laboratory sessions include hands-on training for both neurostimulation and drug delivery systems.

Interventional Pain Therapies: Theory and Technique

This two-day introductory course is designed for physicians who are in an established chronic pain management practice. The course addresses theory and technique in the use of implantable neurostimulation and drug infusion systems for chronic pain management. It includes both classroom instruction and hands-on laboratory sessions.

Intermediate Neurostimulation and Intrathecal Drug Delivery

This course is offered to practitioners who have managed a number of chronic pain patients with Medtronic Pain Therapies and want to enhance their knowledge and skills to increase success with more difficult patients. This course includes lectures, small group discussions and extensive hands-on experience with both neurostimulation and drug delivery systems. Participants are encouraged to bring case studies for discussion with colleagues and faculty.

Additional Medtronic Courses

Additional educational sessions may be offered throughout the year. Please consult your Medtronic representative for more information on:

• Practice enhancement courses
• Complex cases in pain management
• Advanced education for experienced clinicians
• Peer-to-peer on-site training

Practical Clinics

Medtronic sponsors practical clinics through a number of professional organizations. Clinics are hands-on sessions focusing on implant technique for both neurostimulation and drug delivery systems. Practical clinics may be offered through the organizations listed below. For information on course availability and registration, please contact the association directly.

American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS)
April meetings are held annually.
Information may be available at http://www.neurosurgery.org/aans

Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS)
September meetings are held annually.
Information may be available at http://www.neurosurgery.org/cns

American Academy of Pain Medicine (AAPM)
February meetings are held annually
Information may be available at http://www.painmed.org

[Top]

Nurse Education

Patient Management Coordinators (PMC) Symposia

The PMC program is a two-day course for nurses and other healthcare professionals who manage chronic pain patients with Medtronic neurostimulation and drug delivery systems. Courses are approved for 14.5 continuing education credits for nurses. Course content includes:

• Overview of chronic pain
• Role of implantable therapies in chronic pain management
• Patient selection for Medtronic Pain Therapies
• Programming neurostimulation and drug delivery systems
• Troubleshooting neurostimulation and drug delivery systems
• Preventing and managing complications
• Patient education for Medtronic Pain Therapies

Intraspinal Opioids for Managing Cancer Pain

This one hour workshop is designed for oncology nurses and other clinicians who treat and manage cancer patients with chronic pain. It is accredited by the Oncology Nursing Society for 1.2 continuing education credits. Workshops are conducted locally by your Medtronic clinical specialist and include the following content:

• Identifying patients with under-treated cancer pain
• Intraspinal opioids and cancer pain management guidelines
• Intrathecal and epidural administration of opioids
• Device options for intraspinal opioids
• Patient selection for implantable infusion pumps
• Patient management considerations for implantable infusion pumps

Curriculum for Life
Physician Education
Nurse Education