Describe measures aimed at preventing harm before benzodiazepines are prescribed, decreasing any harm of benzodiazepines within 4 weeks after the initial prescription, and limiting the harmful effects of long-term prescribing.

Directed to practitioners in family medicine, geriatric medicine, internal medicine, psychology/psychiatry, and sleep medicine.

In support of improving patient care, Cleveland Clinic Center for Continuing Education 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

American Medical Association (AMA) 

Cleveland Clinic Foundation Center for Continuing Education designates this journal-based activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Participants claiming CME credit from this activity may submit the credit hours to the American Osteopathic Association for Category 2 credit.

Certificate of Participation 

A certificate of participation will be provided to other health care professionals for requesting credits in accordance with their professional boards and/or associations.

American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM)

Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to 1.0 MOC points in the American Board of Internal Medicine’s (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC credit.

**Please Note** To receive MOC you must select the MOC option during the online credit claiming process and complete the required steps. ABIM MOC points will be reported within 30 days of claiming credit.

Activity Director

Brian F. Mandell, MD, PhD
Chairman, Department of Academic Medicine, Education Institute;
Professor of Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine
of Case Western Reserve University,
Editor in Chief, Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine,
Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH

Co-Activity Directors

Craig D. Nielsen, MD, FACP
Vice Chairman, Department of Internal Medicine;
Associate Professor, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine
of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH;
Governor, Ohio Chapter, American College of Physicians;
Deputy Editor, Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine,
Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH

James C. Pile, MD
Department of Hospital Medicine;
Associate Professor, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine
of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH;
Deputy Editor, Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine,
Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH

George Thomas, MD, MPH
Director, Center for Blood Pressure Disorders, Department of Kidney Medicine;
Associate Professor, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine
of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH;
Deputy Editor, Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine,
Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH

Mary T. Cusick, MS
Executive Editor, Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine,
Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH

Authors

Vania Modesto-Lowe, MD, MPH
Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT;
Medical Director, Hartford Behavioral Health, Hartford, CT

Margaret M. Chaplin, MD
Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT;
Farrell Treatment Center, New Britain, CT

Roberto León-Barriera, MD
Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry,
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA

Lakshit Jain, MD
Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Psychiatry,
University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT;
Connecticut Valley Hospital, Middletown, CT

Other Contributors