Program areas at AAN
Annual Meeting and Regional Conferences: As the AANI continued to respond to the disruptions caused by the pandemic, the Academy continued to offer a variety of continuing education programs virtually and via online learning. To help accommodate member needs, the 2022 Annual Meeting was a hybrid experience, with a six-day in-person meeting in Seattle and a three-day all-virtual counterpart offered three weeks later. Given the success of Annual Meeting On Demand, on-demand content was made available for all conferences, allowing the AANI to reach learners on a global level as well as providing continued access to meeting content throughout the year. The value of these on-demand offerings has been appreciated by the members and supports the mission of the Academy. A new hybrid Summer Conference focused on Autoimmune Neurology and Neurology Year in Review was presented to attendees in person and online. The hybrid Fall Conference included pre-conferences for advanced practice providers and people interested in sports concussion. All events were well attended. The inaugural AAN Brain Health Summit was held on September 15 in Washington, DC, convening together leading experts, key public and private sector stakeholders, and policy makers in the United States to shape the future of care, discuss brain health over the lifespan, and outline research, education, and advocacy needs. In conjunction with the summit, the AAN worked with US Representatives Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Morgan Griffith (R-VA) to introduce a resolution to designate September 15, 2022, as "National Brain Health Day." According to the resolution, the purpose of National Brain Health Day is to increase public awareness of brain health and support efforts to study and develop better treatments to improve brain health.
Continuing Medical Education Programs: The AAN continued work on the AAN Education Vision, providing education tools and resources that are easy to find, easy to use, and specific to each member. The Academy started its reaccreditation cycle with the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education. NeuroPanels, a free, case-based webinar series with top-notch experts on each topic, was successfully piloted and will continue in 2023. NeuroSAE(R) transformed its format from semi-annual release of 100 questions to monthly release of 25 questions to meet members' microlearning needs. By the end of the year, there were 100 videos in the NeuroBytes library, and the success of the NeuroBytes: Medical Student Series pilot resulted in regular releases.
Clinical Practice and Guidelines: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) continued to approve the Axon Registry(R) as a qualified clinical data registry. This designation opens the door for Academy members looking for a better way to submit quality data to CMS for the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS). The Axon Registry also is approved by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) as a Continuing Certification Part IV Improvement in Medical Practice Clinical Module activity, and participation in the Axon Registry waives up to eight hours of Part II Self-assessment. The AANI continues to address areas of controversy and importance in its evidence-based guidelines program. There are currently 11 active projects at various stages of development, and the AANI is participating in several collaborations with our neurology partners for subspecialty-related guidelines. To help members provide optimal care for their patients, the Academy published two guidelines during the year: "Stroke Prevention in Symptomatic Large Artery Intracranial Atherosclerosis-Practice Advisory" - "Aducanumab Use in Symptomatic Alzheimer's Disease-Evidence in Focus." Work started on the management of functional seizures guideline, and protocol was posted for public comment.