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

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

International presence in Orlando reflects evolution of PA profession.(FROM THE AAPA: News of current interest)(Conference news)
August 1, 2005... When foreign visitors began coming to AAPA's annual conference 3 years ago, they attended presentations that provided basic information about the work of PAs, PA practice, and accreditation. Now the visitors are the ones doing the presenting....

AAPA Congressional Visit Program--speak out for your patients and your profession.(FROM THE AAPA: News of current interest)
August 1, 2005... Volunteer to participate in AAPA's Congressional Visit Program. If your US senator or representative plays a key role in health care policy, you may be asked to meet with them to discuss PAs and access to quality health care. AAPA underwrites...

AAPA comments on VHA hiring standards.(FROM THE AAPA: News of current interest)(Veterans Health Administration )(Brief article)
August 1, 2005... Draft standards recently released by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) on the hiring of PAs would reduce the VHA's applicant pool of qualified PAs, AAPA Executive Vice President/CEO Steve Crane told Jim Nicholson, Secretary of Veterans...

Physician assistant supply and demand.(Editorial)
August 1, 2005... Will we need more physician assistants in the health care workforce of the future? Once again, perceptions have shifted as past predictions have proven to be wrong. While only a few years ago, health workforce policy expert panels confidently...

Maintaining professional flexibility: the case against accreditation of postgraduate physician assistant programs.(POSITION PAPER)
August 1, 2005... The American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) recognizes the value that voluntary participation in postgraduate clinical training programs may have for physician assistants (PAs) who seek additional knowledge and skills. However, the AAPA...

A day in the life: how PAs live and work.(Personal account)
August 1, 2005... In September 2003, I started work as a PA at a family practice clinic in the United Kingdom (UK). This clinic--or general practice surgery, as they are called--is located in a low-income, high-need area, and the business partners had struggled...

Current trends in diabetes management: diabetes is chronic, costly, increasingly prevalent, and emerging as an alarming public health challenge because of its burden of microvascular complications and its enormous contribution to cardiovascular disease.
August 1, 2005... Diabetes has assumed epidemic proportions, ranking as the sixth leading cause of death and the costliest chronic disease in the United States. (1) Reduced physical activity among Americans, increased caloric intake, and the resultant elevated...

Heatstroke--predictable, preventable, treatable: heatstroke can have devastating, even life-threatening consequences if not recognized quickly and treated effectively. With early recognition and proper care, the prognosis is very good.(Disease/Disorder overview)
August 1, 2005... It's hot and it's going to get hotter. Climate records show that 15 of the past 20 years have been the warmest on record. (1) Since the late 19th century, there has been a worldwide inoculation of greenhouse gases leading to accelerated global...

CME post-test.
August 1, 2005... EXPIRATION DATE AUGUST 2006 AAPA members: Please take this CME post-test online at www.aapa.org. Rizvi AA. Current trends in diabetes management. JAAPA. 2005;18(8):23-29. Moreau TP, Deeter M. Heatstroke--Predictable, preventable,...

Vision screening of young children: taking a second look: there is controversy over the best ways to detect and treat amblyopia. Considering evidence from the latest research could be the first step in decreasing the preventable loss of vision.(Disease/Disorder overview)
August 1, 2005... Amblyopia, a developmental vision disorder, is usually reversible if detected and treated in early childhood. (1-3) In Sweden, where 99% of 4-year-old children undergo visual acuity screening, the prevalence of significant vision loss from...

Laryngopharyngeal reflux---It's not GERD: before you can alleviate symptoms in patients with LPR and ensure healing of the laryngopharynx, you must understand the differences between LPR and GERD.
August 1, 2005... Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are different disorders. The term LPR is used to describe the acid in the stomach that comes up into the throat at the level of the laryngopharynx. LPR causes irritation...

Reflections on a residency.(SOUNDING BOARD: JAAPA's op-ed department)(practicing emergency medicine in Iraq)(Personal account)
August 1, 2005... I recently finished the most difficult and rewarding year of my career in medicine. It was not PA school or my first year of practice as a PA; it was residency. I completed the US Army Physician Assistant Emergency Medicine Residency at Brooke...

Diffuse joint pain in a man with an obstructed bronchus.(DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING REVIEW: Interpreting clinical images)(Clinical report)
August 1, 2005... CASE A 46-year-old man went to the emergency department (ED) of a local hospital complaining of joint pain, low-grade fever, and occasional chills. He received a diagnosis of arthritis and was treated and discharged. Two weeks later, he...

Negative CT scan to rule out PE equal to angiography.(Patient-oriented evidence that matters)(Clinical report)
August 1, 2005... Clinical question Can clinicians rely on a negative computed tomography scan to rule out suspected pulmonary embolism? Bottom line A negative computed tomography (CT) scan is as accurate as pulmonary angiography in ruling out suspected...

High resting heart rate a risk factor for sudden cardiac death.(Patient-oriented evidence that matters)(Clinical report)
August 1, 2005... Clinical question Is a high resting heart rate associated with an increased risk of sudden cardiac death? Bottom line This study showed that a higher resting heart rate was associated with an increased risk of sudden death. We do not know...

Acupuncture effective for chronic back pain.(Patient-oriented evidence that matters)(Clinical report)
August 1, 2005... Clinical question Is acupuncture effective in treating acute or chronic low back pain? Bottom line Acupuncture is an effective treatment for decreasing pain in patients with chronic low back pain, It does not seem to be a placebo effect;...

CME calendar.(Calendar)
August 1, 2005... ARKANSAS September 30-October 1 Fifth Annual Fall CME Conference. Where: Rogers. Provider: Arkansas Academy of PAs. Information: (479) 631-2100, ext. 5970; hsams@roge.mercy.net. CALIFORNIA September 21-24 15th Annual...

PAs in allergy, asthma, and immunology.(SPECIALTY UPDATE)(Brief article)
August 1, 2005... PAs in allergy, asthma, and immunology are the focus of this first monthly column about issues impacting PAs in various specialties. * The AAPA 2004 census reports that slightly less than 1% of all clinically practicing PAs are in this...

American academy of physician assistants in allergy, asthma, and immunology (AAPA-AAI).(SPECIALTY UPDATE)
August 1, 2005... AAPA-AAI is a growing group of PAs committed to caring for patients with allergies and asthma and to educating both patients and health care professionals in the treatment and prevention of allergic diseases. We promote continuing education for...

PAs in pediatrics.(SPECIALTY UPDATE)(Brief article)
August 1, 2005... PAs in pediatrics have been one of the core specialty areas tracked by AAPA since it began conducting census surveys. * Busy PAs in pediatrics sometimes find it difficult to earn CME. AAPA, in cooperation with MedCases, provides 95...

Society for physician assistants in pediatrics (SPAP).(SPECIALTY UPDATE)(Brief article)
August 1, 2005... SPAP is a specialty organization of the AAPA, with representation in the House of Delegates. SPAP supports and advocates for PAs whose practice involves caring for children. AAPA's liaison to the AAP serves in an ad hoc position on the SPAP...

Case of the month: diagnostic challenges from your case files.(Clinical report)
August 1, 2005... CASE The patient is a left-handed, 65-year-old Hispanic man, who was referred for consultation by his occupational health clinic after a slip and fall at work. He was complaining of persistent low back and bilateral leg pain. The pain...