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

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

Medicare demonstration project begins this month.(FROM THE AAPA: News of current interest)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will launch a demonstration project that will reward small and medium-sized medical practices for implementing information technology (IT) that helps improve the care of chronically ill...

Council update.(FROM THE AAPA: News of current interest)(American Academy of Physician Assistants)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... Recent meetings of AAPA's Education Council, Professional Practice Council, and Clinical and Scientific Affairs Council included discussions of the following issues: * The Education Council will prepare a series of articles to help guide...

New information updates available online.(FROM THE AAPA: News of current interest)(American Academy of Physician Assistants )(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... Approximately 231 million patient visits were made to PAs and approximately 286 million medications were prescribed by PAs in 2006, according to new estimates recently released by AAPA. The report on the Number of Patient Visits Made to...

Clinical watch: new and improved from CSAC.(Clinical and Scientific Affairs Council)(Editorial)
January 1, 2007... My dad was right; I'm not that smart. In my more than 20 years as a PA, I've never practiced a day of primary care, opting instead to concentrate on cardiothoracic surgery and cardiac electrophysiology. For me, limiting my focus has been far...

CA-MRSA skin infections: coming to a patient near you.(CLINICAL WATCH)
January 1, 2007... Who should read this? PAs who provide outpatient treatment of skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs). What's new? Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) SSTIs have become epidemic and are now the most...

The pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of IBS: a thorough history and examination, with appropriate testing, are vital to establish rapport with the patient, identify any comorbid conditions, and exclude organic causes of symptoms.
January 1, 2007... Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional bowel disorder characterized by altered bowel habits and chronic abdominal pain. Population-based studies estimate its prevalence at between 10% and 15%, with a female-to-male predominance of 2:1...

Pandemic influenza: a brief history and primer: the avian flu, a virulent strain of type A influenza, threatens to cause the next pandemic. Although antivirals are effective, the most appropriate dosage has yet to be determined--and creating a large enough supply could be another stumbling block.(Cover story)
January 1, 2007... Influenza pandemics have struck repeatedly over the centuries. The 1918 flu caused the greatest morbidity and mortality to date; the fear now is that avian influenza may cause as great a pandemic. While there are numerous options for preventing...

Rapid diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy using emergency bedside ultrasonography: is your patient's abdominal pain a pregnancy gone wrong? Using bedside ultrasonography can improve your diagnostic proficiency and provide expedient care for your patients.
January 1, 2007... A 40-year-old woman presented to the emergency department (ED) complaining of sharp, localized right lower quadrant (RLQ) abdominal pain for 1 day associated with vaginal spotting for 1 week. Her history included four previous pregnancies...

High-altitude illnesses: from the limited to the potentially lethal: if you have skiers or other high-altitude travelers in your practice, awareness of high-altitude illnesses is a must. Acute mountain sickness is the most common and most benign form.(Disease/Disorder overview)
January 1, 2007... High-altitude illness includes the pulmonary and cerebral syndromes that can develop in unacclimated persons after an ascent to high altitude. The three major types of high-altitude illness are acute mountain sickness (AMS), high-altitude...

CME posttest.
January 1, 2007... EXPIRATION DATE JANUARY 2008 AAPA members: Please take this CME posttest online at www.aapa.org. Kolfenbach L. The pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of IBS. JAAPA. 2007;20(1):16-20. Benner DC. High-altitude illnesses: From the...

Atraumatic snapping brachialis in a 37-year-old woman.(THE SURGICAL PATIENT: In and around the OR)
January 1, 2007... Brachialis muscle (brachialis anticus) injury is an uncommon cause of pain or incapacitation in the adult population. Accurate diagnosis can be difficult even with today's technological advances. Surgical exploration may be necessary to make a...

Perfected and strengthened through trials and suffering.(IN RETROSPECT: Reflective essays from PAs)(Essay)
January 1, 2007... There are many benefits to living and practicing medicine in a small community that's 140 miles from the nearest large city, where patients are referred for specialty care. As a family practice PA, I've had the opportunity to develop a wide...

Reduced AMI incidence associated with smoking bans.(Patient-oriented evidence that matters)
January 1, 2007... Clinical question Is there a clinical benefit from stricter smoking ordinances? Bottom line This observational study found that a citywide smoking ban was associated with a reduction in the incidence of acute MI (AMI) by approximately 70...

Acupuncture is effective for long-term back pain relief.(Patient-oriented evidence that matters)
January 1, 2007... Clinical question Is acupuncture effective for long-term relief of low back pain? Bottom line Over the long term (1 to 2 years), treatment of nonspecific low back pain with a short course of acupuncture is as effective as a range of usual...

Clinical criteria can predict risk of serious head injury in kids.(Patient-oriented evidence that matters)(Medical condition overview)
January 1, 2007... Clinical question Can clinical factors be used to identify children with low risk of serious intracranial pathology after head injury? Bottom line Clinical factors can accurately predict which children don't have serious intracranial...

Is chocolate really good for me?(WHEN THE PATIENT ASKS: Brief reviews for you and your patients)
January 1, 2007... There has been a lot of attention in the media regarding the health benefits of chocolate. Consequently, many people are wondering if chocolate really is good for them. This is not an easy question to answer because the benefits are relative to...

Is chocolate really good for me?(PATIENT INFORMATION: From your physician assistant)
January 1, 2007... The news is full of stories that chocolate is good for your health. And everyone loves to eat chocolate. However, common sense tells us there is more to these stories than what the headlines are saying. Chocolate is made from the cocoa...

A common cause of vomiting in infancy.(DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING REVIEW: Interpreting clinical images)(Clinical report)
January 1, 2007... Case A worried mother brings her 7-week-old infant to your office. She states that the infant is not gaining weight, that he seems to "spit up" everything given to him, and that he still seems hungry after vomiting. On physical...

"Furry" lesion on a young woman's tongue.(DERMATOLOGY DIGEST: A derm photo quiz)(Clinical report)
January 1, 2007... A 24-year-old woman presents to the clinic with a 2-month history of discoloration on her tongue. She says it "almost looks like there is fur" on the center of her tongue. A dermatologist treated her with nystatin suspension and clotrimazole...

CME calendar.(Calendar)
January 1, 2007... ALABAMA February 16-18 ASPA 2007 Spring Educational Conference. Where: Birmingham. Provider: Alabama Society of PAs. Information: www.aapa.org/aspa. ARIZONA March 28-31 ASAPA Spring 2007 Primary Care Conference. Where:...

Case of the month: diagnostic challenges from your case files.(Clinical report)
January 1, 2007... CASE The patient is a 23-year-old Hispanic migrant fieldworker who presents with a painful rash on his limbs, trunk, and face. The patient states the rash began 3 years ago on his lower extremities and spread proximally. A topical cream...