Small Group and Individual Training/Education

Traveling Nurse program

The Traveling Nurse program delivers the expertise of a nurse with extensive experience in post-operative management of Activa Therapy patients to neurology centers around the country. The program’s objectives are that participants will:

• Understand the neurologist-neurosurgeon team approach
• Value the skills of a nurse in properly educating patients
• Minimize complication rates
• Appropriately select candidates for Activa Therapy
• Program Activa Therapy effectively
• Understand Activa Therapy reimbursement issues

Achieving these objectives will increase the number of post-operative Activa Therapy patients a center can follow.

Activa Speakers Bureau

The Activa Speakers Bureau is a highly developed network of neurologists and neurosurgeons who are experts in using Activa Therapy in the management of Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor and dystonia.

All Speaker’s Bureau members are leaders in their field, and speak authoritatively on the subject of deep brain stimulation. The speakers are available to travel to local meetings and national events, and are also available for talks to patient support groups and caregivers.

To arrange for an Activa Speakers Bureau member to speak in your area, e-mail or call the Medtronic Activa Education Department at 763-505-0643.

On-site surgical training

This training comprises a full day of observation of an Activa System implant with additional discussion of the surgical technique. Each center is highly experienced with implanting Activa Systems and has excellent outcomes.

Participants’ experience with implanting Activa Systems can range from inexperienced (new to the procedure) to advanced (seeking new techniques). Physicians wishing to see an implant procedure frequently prefer to observe someone who is using equipment similar to their own, such as frame type, planning station, and intra-operative testing techniques. Training centers are happy to answer questions about their equipment.

On-site programming training

This training is held in a private practitioner’s office or in an academic clinic setting, and offers observation of patients and discussion of their motor responses as their Activa Therapy is programmed. Participants receive a minimum of six hours of training, which includes hands-on programming as well as didactic training using Medtronic Neurological’s Programming in a Box resource.

Objectives:

• Understand deep brain stimulation and when to use it
• Know the key concepts pertaining to programming
• Acquire pre-programming information
• Perform the initial programming session
• Manage patients at follow-up programming visits

For more information about any of the offerings described here, contact your local Activa Therapy resource. Or e-mail or call the Medtronic Activa Education Department at 763-505-0643.

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