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

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

The census is coming ...(From the AAPA: news of current interest)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... The 2004 AAPA Annual PA Census Survey will be arriving in your mailbox in mid March. The survey takes only a few minutes to fill out, and the information you provide helps the PA profession to present an accurate, complete picture of its role...

Federal Blue Cross/Blue Shield now officially covers PAs.(From the AAPA: news of current interest)(Federal Employees Health Benefit)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... A new policy issued by the Blue Cross/Blue Shield (BCBS) Federal Employees Health Benefit (FEHB) Program officially includes PAs as "covered professional providers." The policy, which went into effect January 1, 2004, followed months of...

General Motors covers PAs for first assisting.(From the AAPA: news of current interest)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... An inquiry into a denied claim reaped unexpected dividends for the PA profession, leading to one of the largest labor unions in the United States agreeing to cover PAs for first assisting at surgery. PA John Byrnes, president of...

DOD revises requirements for PA licensure.(From the AAPA: news of current interest)(Department of Defense)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... The Department of Defense (DOD) has issued a new directive waiving the requirement for state licensure of PAs practicing within the Military Health System (MHS). The new policy, which applies to both active and reserve PAs, now requires PAs in...

In defense of the annual physical exam.(Editorial)
March 1, 2004... What is an annual physical exam, and why is it under attack by proponents of evidence-based medicine (EBM)? (1) Are they arguing against setting aside the 30- to 45-minute appointments each year that many of us use to communicate with patients...

Add melanoma to cancers found late in African-Americans.(Journal Club: recent articles that have an impact on primary care medicine)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Byrd KM, Wilson DC, Hoyler SS, Peck GL. Advanced presentation of melanoma in African Americans. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2004;50:21-24. * Researchers conducted a retrospective chart review study to determine whether African-American patients...

Fitness level correlates with cardiovascular risk factors in young adults.(Journal Club: recent articles that have an impact on primary care medicine)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Carnethon MR, Gidding SS, Nehgme R, et al. Cardiorespiratory fitness in young adulthood and the development of cardiovascular disease risk factors. JAMA. 2003;290:3092-3100. * Researchers in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young...

Does obesity affect sentinel lymph node biopsy result?(Journal Club: recent articles that have an impact on primary care medicine)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Derossis AM, Fey JV, Cody HS III, Borgen PI. Obesity influences outcome of sentinel lymph node biopsy in early stage breast cancer. J Am Coil Surg. 2003;197:896-961. * Investigators evaluated the success rate of sentinel lymph node (SLN)...

Guidelines for returning athletes to play after concussion.(Journal Club: recent articles that have an impact on primary care medicine)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Guskiewicz KM, McCrea M, Marshall SW, et al. Cumulative effects associated with recurrent concussion in collegiate football players: The NCAA Concussion Study. JAMA. 2003;290:2549-2555. McCrea M, Guskiewicz KM, Marshall SW, et al. Acute...

Current concepts in antiplatelet therapy for cardiovascular disease: studies have shown that survival improves when newer antiplatelet drugs are used in patients who have had an acute coronary event.(Cover Story)
March 1, 2004... Learning objectives * Describe the processes of platelet activation and fibrin formation in thrombogenesis * Review the history and effectiveness of antiplatelet therapy in patients with cardiovascular disease * Become familiar...

Alzheimer's disease genes and genetic testing in clinical practice: to educate patients, PAs must understand the genetic heterogeneity of AD and be able to discuss both genetic testing and the implications of test results.(Genomic Medicine)
March 1, 2004... Mr. and Mrs. Smith, 61 and 57 years old, respectively, are established patients in your practice. Mr. Smith is a college graduate, currently a manager in a local business. He has been healthy, having been seen only for routine health...

The increasing role of CAM in prostate cancer: diet, antioxidants, COX-2 inhibitors, and certain herbs are among the numerous CAM interventions available for prostate cancer. Some show promise, but additional research is needed.
March 1, 2004... As the most common cancer in men, prostate cancer was diagnosed in more than 198,000 American men and was responsible for 30,000 deaths in 2001. (1) The disease strikes African-American men twice as often as Caucasian men, tends to affect older...

Preventing perinatal transmission of group B streptococcal disease: recent data suggest that more can be done to reduce the incidence of early-onset group B strep disease in newborns.
March 1, 2004... Learning objectives * Describe group B streptococcal disease and know the various ways it is transmitted to neonates * Become familiar with guidelines for identifying women at risk * Know the importance of prevention and how to...

CME calendar.(Calendar)
March 1, 2004... From the AAPA June 1-6 The 32nd Annual Physician Assistant Conference Las Vegas, Nevada Provider: American Academy of Physician Assistants Location: Las Vegas Convention Center Contact: Lauren Miller, (703) 836-2272....

In the grip of pain.(Diagnostics imaging review: interpreting clinical images)
March 1, 2004... A 58-year-old man arrives at the family practice clinic complaining that the action of gripping a golf club or any other item causes pain at the base of his right hand. He reports no numbness, tingling, or loss of movement in the fingers and no...

Withdrawal of long-acting nitrates safe in stable angina.(POEMs: patient-oriented evidence that matters)
March 1, 2004... Clinical question Is it safe to withdraw long-acting nitrates from patients with stable angina who may no longer need them? Bottom line There is little risk to withdrawing patients with stable angina from long-acting nitrates as long as...

Sildenafil doesn't work for postmenopausal women.(POEMs: patient-oriented evidence that matters)
March 1, 2004... Clinical question Is sildenafil effective treatment for sexual arousal disorder in postmenopausal women? Bottom line Sildenafll was not effective as a treatment of acquired genital sexual arousal disorder in postmenopausal women taking...

Short antibiotic course effective for Lyme disease.(POEMs: patient-oriented evidence that matters)
March 1, 2004... Clinical question is 10-day antibiotic therapy in early Lyme disease as effective as 20-day treatment? Bottom line Doxycycline for 10 days is as effective as 20 days of therapy in patients with early Lyme disease. The addition of a single...

Case of the month: diagnostic challenges from your case files.(diagnosing shoulder pain)
March 1, 2004... CASE Mr. M. is a 42-year-old black man who presented to the family practice clinic with about 10 weeks of right shoulder pain that he described as a dull ache in the front of the shoulder. The pain did not keep him up at night, but he had...