First trimester abortion and miscarriage can be safely managed without surgery using manual vacuum aspiration (MVA) and medications such as the mifepristone/misoprostol regimen. Since MVA and medication management can be implemented in outpatient settings, these regimens represent viable options for expanding women’s access to needed services. Increasing the number of health care providers trained to offer these services and educating women about their options are important goals for ensuring optimal patient care.
This program builds on work from a collaborative project, which represented the work of several national clinical and advocacy groups, including The Abortion Access Project, American Medical Women's Association (AMWA), Association of Reproductive Health Professionals (ARHP), Center for Reproductive Health Education in Family Medicine (formerly known as the Access Project), Center for Reproductive Health Policy and Research, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), Early Options, Ipas, Medical Students for Choice (MSFC), National Abortion Federation (NAF), National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women's Health (NPWH), Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health (PRCH), and Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA).
For more information about the program, please contact Camille Harris at charris@arhp.org or (202) 466-3825.
Intended Audience and Accreditation
This program is designed for primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, registered nurses, pharmacists, physician assistants, researchers, public health professionals, and health educators in the field of reproductive health, general practice, and emergency medicine.
The curriculum/live sessions associated with this program are accredited for continuing medical education.
Module #1: Manual Vacuum Aspiration
This module is designed to educate health care providers about manual vacuum aspiration (MVA).
Program Design and Educational Activities
- Power point slide set with talking points, case studies and learning activities
- Integration of content into CORE, ARHP’s on-line, open-access collection of peer-reviewed, evidence-based teaching materials
- Live sessions at selected locations
Curriculum Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of these sessions, participants will be able to:
- List four clinical indications for manual vacuum aspiration.
- Summarize safety and efficacy data related to MVA.
- Demonstrate the steps involved in an MVA procedure.
- List appropriate pain management options for MVA.
- Describe patient intake and counseling.
- List three advantages of performing uterine evacuation in the outpatient setting.
Funding
The project is funded through an educational grant from WomanCare Global.
Module #2: MVA and Medication Management
This module is designed to educate health care providers about options available for their patients making decisions about pregnancies, including manual vacuum aspiration (MVA) and medication management.
Program Design and Educational Activities
Curriculum Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of these sessions, participants will be able to:
- List four clinical indications for manual vacuum aspiration.
- List four factors to consider when counseling women about MVA versus medical management of early pregnancy loss.
- List three conditions in a patient that should cause a provider to use caution before providing MVA or medical management of early pregnancy loss.
- List at least one medication regimen used for early medication abortion
Funding
The project was funded through an educational grant from Ipas.
Module #3: Medication Management in the Outpatient Setting
This module is designed to raise awareness about the use of medical abortion as an option for uterine evacuation management in the United States.
Program Design and Educational Activities
- Power point slide set with talking points, case studies and learning activities
- 2 live sessions
- 2 live webinar sessions
- 1 archived webinar session
- Integration of content into CORE, ARHP’s on-line, open-access collection of peer-reviewed, evidence-based teaching materials
Curriculum Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of this presentation, participants should be able to:
- Identify three advantages for treating early pregnancy loss in the outpatient setting
- Implement at least one medication regimen used for medical management of early pregnancy loss
- Recognize four factors to consider when counseling women about medical management of early pregnancy loss
- Screen patients for contraindications to outpatient management of early pregnancy loss
Funding
This project is funded through an educational grant from Danco Laboratories, LLC.
Module #4: Medication Management of Elective First Trimester Abortion
This module is designed to raise awareness about the use of medical abortion as an option for elective first trimester abortion in the United States.
Program Design and Educational Activities
- Power point slide set with talking points, case studies and learning activities
- Integration of content into CORE, ARHP’s on-line, open-access collection of peer-reviewed, evidence-based teaching materials
- 1 live webinar session
- 1 archived webinar session
Curriculum Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of this presentation, participants should be able to:
- Identify at least three advantages of using medication management for elective first trimester abortion
- Implement at least one medication regimen used for elective first trimester abortion
- Recognize at least four factors to consider when counseling women about using medication management for elective first trimester abortion
- Screen patients for contraindications to medication management of elective first trimester abortion
Funding
This project is funded through an educational grant from Danco Laboratories, LLC.
Module #5: Medical Abortion Follow-Up
This module is designed to educate health care providers about follow-up after medical abortion.
Program Design and Educational Activities
- Power point slide set with talking points, case studies and learning activities
- Integration of content into CORE, ARHP’s on-line, open-access collection of peer-reviewed, evidence-based teaching materials
- 2 live webinar sessions
- 1 archived webinar session
Curriculum Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of this presentation, participants should be able to:
- Identify several evidence-based ways to follow women after medical abortion
- Distinguish findings at the follow-up that are normal versus those that require further care
- When the woman requires further care, implement appropriate intervention
Funding
This project is funded through an educational grant from Danco Laboratories, LLC.
