JAAPA-Journal of the American Academy of Physicians Assistants articles from December 2004

JAAPA-Journal of the American Academy of Physicians Assistants archives from December 2004

Alabama Supreme Court requires BCBS to cover PAs.(From the AAPA: news of current interest)(Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama to cover physician assistant charges)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... After more than 5 years of intense legal action, the Alabama Supreme Court has made a final determination that requires Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama (BCBSA) to reimburse for medical and surgical services delivered by PAs. The decision...

Interest in online consults on the rise.(From the AAPA: news of current interest)(reimbursement for online medical consultation)
December 1, 2004... Interest by patients in communicating with their health care providers by e-mail rather than office visits for nonurgent needs has led several insurance companies to provide reimbursement for such consults and has others considering the...

Our machines, ourselves.(Guest Editorial)
December 1, 2004... Men are the weaker sex. I'll even go a step further and say we have a great deal to learn from women. According to Healthy People 2010 (www.healthypeople. gov), men have a life expectancy 6 years less than that of women, and we have higher...

Chronic pancreatitis debilitating for the patient, frustrating to manage: PAs must recognize both the classic clues to chronic pancreatitis and their own limitations in the diagnosis and treatment. When an immediate gastroenterology referral is not possible, begin the investigation using noninvasive tests.(Recertification Refresher)
December 1, 2004... KEY POINTS in this article * Consider chronic pancreatitis (CP) in patients who have both abdominal pain and a history of alcohol abuse. Steatorrhea and diabetes mellitus are common late signs. * Diagnostic tests that are considered...

Meeting the challenge of generalized anxiety disorder: worry, tension, and nervousness are the hallmarks of GAD, whose sufferers often stretch the boundaries of the primary care office visit.
December 1, 2004... KEY POINTS in this article * Patients with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) worry constantly and may have symptoms similar to those seen in depressive disorders. * No reliable demographic or medical profiles exist for GAD, which is...

CME: post-test.
December 1, 2004... EXPIRATION DATE DECEMBER 2005 AAPA members: Please take this CME Post-test online at www.aapa.org. Connelly E. Chronic pancreatitis: Debilitating for the patient, frustrating to manage. JAAPA. 2004; 17(12): 14-18. Hunter Buskey RN....

Talking with male patients about cancer screening: cancer-screening discussions can be complex, involving multiple options and much controversy. The use of shared decision making and patient education can address men's informational needs and improve adherence.
December 1, 2004... KEY POINTS in this article * Clinicians hold certain stereotypes that may run counter to men's actual feelings and beliefs, and these stereotypes can interfere with effective clinical communication. * Clinicians must learn about male...

Stay alert for performance-enhancing substance use: anabolic steroids. Testosterone precursors. Nutraceuticals. Designer drugs. The list of substances athletes may take to enhance performance is long, and growing longer. Before you can educate patients about the dangers of such use, you must educate yourself.
December 1, 2004... KEY POINTS in this article * Despite the lack of proven benefits to using performance-enhancing drugs, recreational and professional athletes continue to take them in an effort to improve athletic performance. * Adolescent athletes are...

Diagnosing the acute scrotum: the accuracy of clinical assessment and bedside US compared with the gold standard.(Cat clinic: critically appraised topics)
December 1, 2004... A 26-year-old man is seen at 1 AM in the emergency department (ED) of an urban teaching hospital for acute onset of right testicular pain. The pain began 6 hours previously but had resolved briefly during that time. The patient was vague about...

Migraine headache often labeled as sinus headache.(Poems: patient-oriented evidence that matters)
December 1, 2004... Clinical question Is a diagnosis of migraine more appropriate for patients who have headaches attributed to sinus symptoms? Bottom line Patients with frequent sinus headaches may actually have migraine. A more useful study would determine...

Bupropion + nicotine replacement no better than replacement alone.(Poems: patient-oriented evidence that matters)
December 1, 2004... Clinical question Does the addition of bupropion to nicotine replacement and counseling improve cessation rates? Bottom line The addition of bupropion (Zyban) does not further increase long-term quit rates in those who receive nicotine...

Atorvastatin delays first MI in patients with DM (CARDS).(Poems: patient-oriented evidence that matters)(preventing cardiovascular disease in diabetics)
December 1, 2004... Clinical question Is atorvastatin effective in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in adults with diabetes mellitus? Bottom line In high-risk patients with diabetes, atorvastatin (Lipitor) delays the development of acute...

CME Calendar.(Calendar)
December 1, 2004... ALABAMA April 1-3 2005 Annual CME Conference. Where: Birmingham. Provider: Alabama Society of PAs. Information: nsmunroe@hiwaay.net. CALIFORNIA February 23-27 14th Annual Winter PA Board Review. Where: Pasadena. Provider: Keck School of...

Case of the month: diagnostic challenges from your case files.(rhabdomyolysis secondary to community-acquired pneumonia)
December 1, 2004... CASE The patient is a previously healthy 21-year-old man who came to the clinic complaining of fever, malaise, and significant myalgia for 7 days. He reported nausea and decreased appetite but no vomiting. Four days before this visit, he...