JAAPA-Journal of the American Academy of Physicians Assistants articles from April 2007

JAAPA-Journal of the American Academy of Physicians Assistants archives from April 2007

AAPA assisting effort to refine Medicare fee schedules.(American Academy of Physician Assistants)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... AAPA is contributing to a nationwide survey of medical and surgical practices that is expected to provide the most accurate information yet on a practice's cost for a patient visit. The Multi-specialty Physician Practice Information Survey is...

News from the most recent Board of Directors meeting.(American Academy of Physician Assistants)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... The AAPA Board of Directors (BOD) approved several major actions at its February meeting, including a motion requesting the 2007 House of Delegates (HOD) to approve a new AAPA fellow recognition program to recognize PAs for their AAPA...

New member benefit: Medical Watch.(American Academy of Physician Assistants)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... Coming soon to your e-mail inbox-the latest summary of breaking medical and health care news collected by an elite rerun of writers. Medical Watch is a joint effort of AAPA and US News Custom Briefings, a subsidiary of US News and World...

PAs in psychiatry: improving care for the underserved.(physician assistants)(Editorial)
April 1, 2007... With an increasing number of patients requiring mental health services and a growing shortage of mental health providers, PAs can play a key role in expanding access to mental health care for underserved areas and populations. "Flexibility at...

New drug information.(varicella-zoster virus vaccine Zostavax by Merck and Company Inc.)(Drug overview)
April 1, 2007... FROM THE EDITORS OF THE PAPR PRODUCT: Zostavax COMPANY: Merck PHARMACOLOGIC CLASS: Vaccine ACTIVE INGREDIENT: Varicella zoster vaccine, live, attenuated; minimum of 19,400 PFU/0.65mL dose; pwd for SC inj after reconstitution...

Acute episode or chronic problem?(Dermatology Digest)(angioedema)(Disease/Disorder overview)
April 1, 2007... CASE A 59-year-old man presented with acute swelling of his lips and face. The swelling began about 2 hours before he arrived and was slowly resolving. Although the patient had experienced this swelling before, this instance was the first...

A day in the life.(physician assistants)(Chronology)
April 1, 2007... When I started PA school at the University of North Texas Health Science Center, I knew I would focus on surgery. I had worked in the OR as a clinical assistant for 3 years wine attending college, and becoming a surgical PA was definitely at...

Evaluation and treatment of patients with low back pain: most back pain resolves promptly and spontaneously, and conservative treatment is effective in most cases that do not. Only in rare instances is this condition a sign of severe disease.(continuing medical education)(Cover story)
April 1, 2007... LEARNING OBJECTIVES * Describe the pathophysiology of disorders manifesting as low back pain * Discuss the importance of the history and physical examination in the evaluation * State the indications for radiographs, MRI, and...

The nuts and bolts of peanut allergy: the principles for successful management of peanut allergy include patient education, treatment of the acute reaction, and appropriate follow-up care.(Case study)
April 1, 2007... CASE A 24-year-old Asian male presents to the clinic with complaints of oral pruritus, facial flushing, and nausea intermittently after meals. He has a history of childhood eczema and had a severe anaphylactic reaction to peanut butter at...

Care of patients with diabetes who are undergoing surgery: management includes careful preoperative evaluation of risk, meticulous attention to glucose control during surgery, and a seamless transition to a stable regimen postoperatively.
April 1, 2007... Patients with diabetes undergo surgery at a higher rate than do those without diabetes and are prone to adverse outcomes that can prolong hospital stays (1) and increase mortality. (2) Surgery frequently disrupts the patient's eating pattern,...

The patient with borderline personality disorder: caring for borderline patients is demanding, complex, and time consuming. A few simple strategies can improve outcomes and even strengthen your relationship with the patient.
April 1, 2007... LEARNING OBJECTIVES * Understand the definition and patient presentation of borderline personality disorder * Discuss the use of structure and boundary-setting during treatment * Describe several behaviors that providers can...

CME posttest: expiration date: April 2008.(continuing medical education)
April 1, 2007... AAPA members: Please take this CME posttest online at www.aapa.org. Nelson A. Evaluation and treatment of patients with low back pain. JAAPA. 2007;20(4):22-26. LaForge E. The patient with borderline personality disorder. JAAPA. 2007;...

The role of PAs in the future health workforce.(physicians assistants)
April 1, 2007... As health care provider shortages appear on the horizon, questions persist as to how the PA profession fits into the future health care workforce. Four workforce-related presentations given at the October 2006 Physician Assistant Education...

Surgery is better than no surgery for spinal stenosis.(Patient-oriented evidence that matters)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
April 1, 2007... Clinical question In adults with spinal stenosis, is surgical treatment more effective than nonsurgical treatment? Bottom line Most patients with lumbar spinal stenosis treated surgically and nonsurgically improve over time. However,...

Delayed tympanostomy tube insertion doesn't impair developmental outcomes.(Patient-oriented evidence that matters)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
April 1, 2007... Clinical question Does the delayed insertion of tympanostomy tubes impair the long-term outcomes in children with persistent middle-ear effusion? Bottom line Delayed tympanostomy tube insertion successfully helps many children avoid tubes...

Acupuncture is ineffective for hot flashes.(Patient-oriented evidence that matters)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
April 1, 2007... Clinical question Is acupuncture an effective treatment for perimenopausal and postmenopausal hot flashes? Bottom line Acupuncture is not an effective treatment for menopausal hot flashes. (Level of evidence = 1b) Synopsis In this...

Who is responsible for the patient's adherence to treatment?
April 1, 2007... * CASE Mr. S. is a 53-year-old patient in a family practice clinic. He has a 9-year history of uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus with progressively worsening neuropathy, hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, and dyslipidemia. His medical...

An elderly man who refuses colonoscopy.
April 1, 2007... * CASE An 81-year-old male presented to the office with complaints of frequent constipation that represented a change from his usual bowel habits. Normally, he had 4 to 5 bowel movements per week, but over the past few months he had only 1...

PAs in occupational medicine play an important role in maintaining a healthy workforce.(physicians' assistants)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... PAs in occupational medicine play an important role in maintaining a healthy workforce. Companies are trying to do what they can to ensure they have healthy workers because healthy employees are better for business. >AAPA has been working...

American Academy of PAs in Occupational Medicine (AAPA-OM).(American Academy of Physician Assistants)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... PAs who practice occupational medicine are the link between the patient and the primary care physician. PAs provide the continuity of care and continue the dialog that sometimes gets lost in this age of insurance-mandated limitations. PAs in...

PAs in obstetrics and gynecology, as well as other specialty areas, do not have to go it alone.(American Academy of Physician Assistants)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... PAs in obstetrics and gynecology, as well as other specialty areas, do not have to go it alone. There are numerous resources available through the AAPA to help them. >AAPA assists specialty organizations interested in exhibiting at...

Association of Physician Assistants in Obstetrics and Gynecology (APAOG).(American Academy of Physician Assistants)(Brief article)
April 1, 2007... Physician assistants in obstetrics and gynecology complement physicians in a team-based model by sharing the care of patients so the physician can focus on more complex cases while still maintaining oversight of care within the practice. ...

Case of the month.(diarrhea, abdominal pain)
April 1, 2007... >CASE The patient is a 63-year-old woman who arrived at the emergency department complaining of a 5-day history of diarrhea and increasing abdominal pain. When her symptoms began, she was having approximately four episodes of diarrhea a...