Envisioning Equity: Enhancing Access and Early Intervention for Retinal Disease in Rural and Underserved Communities
Release Date | February 28, 2025 |
Expiration Date | February 28, 2026 |
Format | Webcast |
CME | 1.0 credit |
CE | 1.0 contact hour |

Acknowledgement
This activity is provided by Talem Health and RME Collaborative.
This online program is recorded content from the live session at Rural Health Clinical Congress Fall 2024 and is co-supported by independent medical education grants from Eisai, Inc.; Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; and Sanofi. This activity is supported by an independent medical education grant from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Credit Available
- Physicians — maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
- Nurses — 1.0 Contact Hour (0.5 contact hour of pharmacotherapy credit)
- Pharmacists — 1.0 Contact Hour (0.1 CEU)
All other healthcare professionals completing this course will be issued a statement of participation.
Target Audience
This activity is designed specifically for primary care clinicians, registered nurses, advanced practice registered nurses, and pharmacists who care for patients from rural and underserved communities.
Program Overview
In rural and underserved communities, numerous barriers hinder access to ophthalmic care, contributing to significant disparities in eye health. Patients who reside in these areas cope with challenges such as higher rates of uninsurance, long travel distances to care, and a paucity of specialists. As a result, patients are less likely to receive the recommended screenings for retinal disease, which is necessary for early treatment and improved outcomes. In this CME/CE activity, expert faculty will review current guideline recommendations for retinal disease screening and the latest advances in treatment for diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration. Strategies to overcome barriers and improve collaborative care and management in rural and underserved communities will also be discussed.
This enduring activity is a recorded session from Rural Health Clinical Congress Fall 2024 that took place on November 23, 2024.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this activity, participants should be better able to:
- Implement effective strategies to enhance diabetic retinopathy screening and ensure timely referrals to specialists
- Identify key symptoms and clinical characteristics of age-related macular degeneration
- Evaluate clinical evidence on the efficacy, safety, and dosing profiles of available treatments for diabetic retinopathy
- Assess the safety, efficacy, and durability of available therapies for age-related macular degeneration
- Incorporate shared decision-making and collaborative care practices to address and overcome barriers in managing patients with diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration
Faculty

Yasha S. Modi, MD
Associate Professor of Ophthalmology
NYU Grossman School of Medicine
Director, Tele-Retina
New York, NY
Cody A. Chastain, MD, MEHP
Associate Professor of Medicine
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, TN
Joint Accreditation Statement
In support of improving patient care, Talem Health is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
Credit Designation Statement
Physician Continuing Medical Education
Talem Health designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Continuing Nursing Education
The maximum number of hours awarded for this Continuing Nursing Education activity is 1.0 contact hour. Designated for 0.5 contact hour of pharmacotherapy credit for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses.
Continuing Pharmacy Education
Talem Health designates this continuing education activity for 1.0 contact hour (0.1 CEU) of the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education.
(Universal Activity Number – JA4008332-0000-25-007-H01-P)
Type of Activity: Application
Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest
Talem Health adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CE activity, including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others, are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (commercial interests). All identified conflicts of interest are thoroughly vetted and mitigated according to Talem Health policy. Talem Health is committed to providing its learners with high quality accredited continuing education activities and related materials that promote improvements or quality in healthcare and not a specific proprietary business interest of an ineligible company.
All relevant financial relationships have been mitigated.
The faculty reported the following relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities related to the educational content of this CE activity:
Faculty
Yasha S. Modi, MD, has disclosed the following relevant financial relationships: consultant/advisory board member for AbbVie, Inc., Alcon, Inc., Alimera Sciences, Inc., Astellas Pharma, Inc., Dutch Ophthalmic Research Center, EyePoint Pharmaceuticals, Genentech, Inc., Neurotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Topcon Healthcare, Inc., and ZEISS Group.
Cody A. Chastain, MD, MEHP, has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Planners, Managers, and Reviewer
The Talem Health planners, managers, and reviewer have nothing to disclose.
Instructions for Participation and Credit
This activity is offered at no cost to participants. To receive CME credit, participants must:
- Read the CME/CE information, including learning objectives and disclosure statements.
- Complete the pre-test.
- View the online activity.
- Complete the post-test and evaluation form.
A post-test score of 75% or higher is required to obtain credit. Your certificate will be made available for immediate download.
Course Viewing Requirements
Supported Browsers:
Desktop/laptop: Newest and last prior version of Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Microsoft Edge
Mobile devices: Newest and last prior version of Safari and Google Chrome
Supported Phones & Tablets:
All devices
Disclosure of Unlabeled Use
This educational activity may contain discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not indicated by the FDA. The planners of this activity do not recommend the use of any agent outside of the labeled indications. The opinions expressed in the educational activity are those of the faculty and do not necessarily represent the views of the planners. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.
Disclaimer
Participants have an implied responsibility to use the newly acquired information to enhance patient outcomes and their own professional development. The information presented in this activity is not meant to serve as a guideline for patient management. Any procedures, medications, or other courses of diagnosis or treatment discussed or suggested in this activity should not be used by clinicians without evaluation of their patient’s conditions and possible contraindications and/or dangers in use, review of any applicable manufacturer’s product information, and comparison with recommendations of other authorities.
©RME Collaborative, a division of Talem Health, LLC. All Rights Reserved. These materials may be used for personal use only. Any rebroadcast, distribution, or reuse of this presentation or any part of it in any form for other than personal use without the express written permission of Talem Health, LLC is prohibited.
Media
Internet activity
Fee Information
There is no fee for this educational activity.
Contact Information
General Questions
For questions about this activity, please contact RME Collaborative (a division of Talem Health) at 800-913-9370 or cme@cmeruralhealth.com.