JAAPA-Journal of the American Academy of Physicians Assistants articles from April 2005

JAAPA-Journal of the American Academy of Physicians Assistants archives from April 2005

Looming physician shortages may boost PA prominence.(FROM THE AAPA: News of current interest)
April 1, 2005... An aging population, combined with physicians spending more time treating increasingly complex cases, is expected to lead to a shortage of physicians that could put PAs in greater demand in the coming years to fill the need for health care...

Corrections.(Correction Notice)
April 1, 2005... For "Liver transplantation: Managing complications in primary care" in the February 2005 issue: * Under "Biliary tract complications" on page 42, the sentence, "Choledochocholedochostomy (CDCD, or duct-to-duct surgery) may be dispensed...

A day in the life: how PAs live and work.(physician assistant)
April 1, 2005... My days combine practicing as a physician assistant and teaching the basic sciences (gross anatomy, neuroanatomy, embryology, and histology) to students in a number of medical programs. My schedule varies depending on scheduled surgeries and...

Physician assistant volunteers belong in free clinics.(Editorial)
April 1, 2005... About 15 women and two men (the customary ratio in my experience) sat around tables that were covered with blond Formica in the music room of my son's middle school. It was the monthly meeting of the Music Boosters' club. Our job was to raise...

Nerve entrapments of the wrist: early treatment preserves function: nerve entrapment syndromes may affect as many as one in four office workers. Prompt diagnosis is critical to the selection of an appropriate and effective treatment.(Entrapment syndromes)(Cover Story)
April 1, 2005... Work-related upper extremity disorders associated with repetitive motion have a price tag of $2.1 billion in annual workers' compensation costs. (1) Prevalence rates based on symptom surveys along with a physical examination indicate that 25%...

Severe GERD: effective treatment prevents potentially serious complications: when left untreated--or when treated inadequately--severe gastroesophageal reflux disease can progress to esophagitis, ulcers, laryngeal disease, chronic cough, Barrett's esophagus, and esophageal adenocarcinoma.(GERD)(gastroesophageal reflux disease )
April 1, 2005... In estimated 44% of the 61 million adults living in the United States have heartburn, the hallmark of acid regurgitation, at least once a month. (1) In most cases, no serious or permanent damage results; but in some people, chronic heartburn,...

CME: post-test.
April 1, 2005... EXPIRATION DATE APRIL 2006 AAPA members: Please take this CME post-test online at www.aapa.org. Wellik GM. Nerve entrapments of the wrist: Early treatment preserves function. JAAPA. 2005;18(4):18-23. Featherstone EA. Severe GERD:...

Barriers for PAs volunteering to serve indigent populations: lack of liability coverage and authorization requirements for supervision can create legal barriers for PAs who want to volunteer. The good news: Some states are amending their laws so that PAs can volunteer legally.(Volunteerism)(physician assistants)
April 1, 2005... Nationwide, the growing number of uninsured people, including immigrants and refugees, is creating gaps in the delivery of health care. The United States Census Bureau estimated that 45 million persons were living without health insurance in...

Medical management of the adult patient with Down syndrome: longer life expectancy and relative independence among people with Down syndrome mean a unique ambulatory population for the family practice setting. How can you best address the medical needs of these patients?(Down syndrome)
April 1, 2005... Down syndrome (DS) is the single most frequently identified cause of mental retardation in North America. Extra chromosome (trisomy) 21 is present in 95% of DS patients with phenotypic expression (see Figure 1). This genetic condition occurs in...

A fresh look at clinical excellence.(SOUNDING BOARD: JAAPA's op-ed department)
April 1, 2005... What skills are needed to be the kind of clinician who usually arrives at a diagnosis quickly, delivers a good treatment plan, comforts patients well, and rarely makes mistakes? Delivering excellent clinical care in all settings requires much...

Quality of life with rate or rhythm control in atrial fib (AFFIRM).(POEMs: Patient-oriented evidence that matters)(Atrial Fibrillation Follow-up Investigation of Rhythm Management)
April 1, 2005... Clinical Question In patients with atrial fibrillation, does rhythm control offer a quality of life benefit over controlling heart rate? Bottom Line Attempting to maintain sinus rhythm in patients with atrial fibrillation, in addition to...

Hyperbaric oxygen prevents major amputation in diabetic patients.(POEMs: Patients-oriented evidence that matters)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Clinical Question Does hyperbaric oxygen improve outcomes in patients with chronic wounds? Bottom Line In patients with diabetic foot ulcers, hyperbaric oxygen reduces the number of major amputations for up to 1 year. These data, however,...

False-positive PSA result associated with increased worry, fears.(POEMs: Patient-oriented evidence that matters)(prostate specific antigen)
April 1, 2005... Clinical Question Do men who receive a false-positive prostate specific antigen (PSA) test result worry more about prostate cancer than men who receive a negative result? Bottom Line False-positive results of screening tests are not...

CME calendar.(Calendar)
April 1, 2005... FLORIDA August 3-7 FAPA Annual Summer Symposium. Where: St. Petersburg Beach. Provider: Florida Academy of PAs. Information: www.fapaonline.org. LOUISIANA September 8-11 13th Annual Primary Care Conference. Where: New...

Case of the month: diagnostic challenges from your case files.
April 1, 2005... Lisa DiSandro, MS, PA-C CASE The patient is a 38-year-old woman who complained of having pain in her right knee over the past 6 months. She reported no history of injury or trauma. Her primary care physician treated her initially with...