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

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

The AAPA's 32nd Annual Physician Assistant Conference begins.(From the AAPA: news of current interest)(American Academy of Physician Assistants)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Several resolutions aimed at current health policy issues will be debated by the AAPA House of Delegates (HOD) when it meets during the Academy's 32nd Annual Physician Assistant Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, June 1-6. The HOD is the AAPA's...

FDA and AAPA agree to fight counterfeit drugs.(From the AAPA: news of current interest)(Food and Drug Administration)(American Academy of Physician Assistants)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... The AAPA has entered into an agreement with the FDA to become part of the Counterfeit Alert Network, a coalition of national organizations that will help distribute notification of suspected counterfeit drugs, specific incidents, and...

New insurance information on the Web.(From the AAPA: news of current interest)(AAPA Insurance Services )(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... AAPA Insurance Services has launched a Web-based gateway to PA professional liability insurance providing personal coverage that will follow PAs from job to job. This site can also answer questions relating to insurance and malpractice risk...

New JCAHO hospital accreditation process likely to involve PAs.(From the AAPA: news of current interest)(Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations)(Physicians assistants)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... For each of the 18,000 PAs whose primary practice setting is a hospital, the chance of participating in a hospital survey by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAH0) recently escalated. Because of a January 1,...

What's new in treating skin infections?(Journal club: the bottom line on new research)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Schweiger ES, Weinberg JM. Novel antibacterial agents for skin and skin structure infections. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2004;50:331-340. * The continuing emergence of antibiotic resistance among gram-positive bacteria, such as Staphylococcus...

A role for statin therapy in heart failure?(Journal club: the bottom line on new research)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Horwioh TB, MacLellan WR, Fonarow GC. Stalin therapy is associated with improved survival in ischemic and non-ischemic heart failure. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2004;43:642-648. * Researchers at a university heart failure (HF) center analyzed a...

Why public health surveillance is crucial.(Journal club: the bottom line on new research)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Lopman B, Vennema H, Kohli E, et al. Increase in viral gastroenteritis outbreaks in Europe and epidemic spread of new norovirus variant. Lancet. 2004;363:682-688. * Recent outbreaks of norovirus gastroenteritis on cruise ships and in...

Aggressive screening for CHD not warranted.(Journal club: the bottom line on new research)(coronary heart disease)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Screening for coronary heart disease: recommendation statement. US Preventive Services Task Force, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Ann Intern Med. 2004;240:1-4. * The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) found no...

Lifting depression in the elderly.(Journal club: the bottom line on new research)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Bruce ML, Ten Have TR, Reynolds CF Ill, et al. Reducing suicidal ideation and depressive symptoms in depressed older primary care patients: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2004;291:1081-1091. * Suicide rates are the highest in the...

Let's continue our commitment to the medically underserved.(Guest Editorial)
May 1, 2004... From its inception, the physician assistant profession has been oriented toward improving medical care for the underserved. In a 1971 draft copy of a manuscript describing a community health care project utilizing a PA, pioneering PA educator...

Does antibiotic use cause breast cancer?(In the news: commentary on advances in medicine)
May 1, 2004... In mid February 2004, news services all over the world reported some startling information: a researcher at the University of Washington in Seattle had documented a link between antibiotic use and breast cancer. In fact, many of the headlines...

IBD--recognition, diagnosis, and therapeutics: an accurate diagnosis is crucial in managing ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease; the clinical presentation and the use of endoscopy are essential to the evaluation of inflammatory bowel disease.(inflammatory bowel disease)(Cover Story)
May 1, 2004... The term inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) encompasses two disorders, ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). Although abdominal pain is common to both, other presenting signs and symptoms are different, as is the underlying pathology....

The preoperative cardiac risk evaluation: putting guidelines into practice: an ACC/AHA algorithm provides a stepwise, evidence-based approach to preoperative cardiac evaluations that is easy to apply in the primary care setting.
May 1, 2004... Of the more than 27 million people who undergo noncardiac surgery each year, 8 million have either known coronary artery disease or one or more risk factors for it, and approximately 1 million develop perioperative cardiac complications. (1)...

CME post-test.
May 1, 2004... EXPIRATION DATE MAY 2005 Please take this CME Post-test online at www.aapa.org. Colletti T. IBD--recognition, diagnosis, and therapeutics. JAAPA. 2004;17(5):16-18,21-24. Kaufman TM. The preoperative cardiac risk evaluation: Putting...

Issues in transfusion safety: predonation screening and deferral procedures and postdonation testing of blood samples protect the safety of the blood supply--but even with high safety and surveillance levels, transfusion-related transmission of disease remains possible.
May 1, 2004... Transfusion of blood products is a lifesaving treatment integral to modern medical practice. Both the clinician and patient expect that all available technology has been utilized in the transfusion process, from collection to delivery, to...

Incorporating cardiovascular disease risk stratification into clinical decision making.(CSAC Special Report)
May 1, 2004... Clinical decision making about patients who may be at risk for cardiovascular events is increasingly complicated by a growing body of conflicting data regarding the roles that hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes, obesity, smoking, family...

Across the pond: learning from the UK National Health Service.(Sounding board: JAAPA's op-ed department)
May 1, 2004... Late in 2003, I spent some time in the United Kingdom as a part of a sabbatical from my faculty position. I went to observe the practice of house calls, not to research the National Health Service (NHS), but while I was there, I became...

CME calendar.(Calendar)
May 1, 2004... FLORIDA July 27-31 29th Annual Convention & Exhibition. Where: Destin/Fort Walton Beach. Provider: Georgia Association of PAs. Information: www.gapa.net. August 4-8 FAPA Annual Summer Symposium. Where: Marco Island. Provider:...

Routine thyroid disease screening not recommended.(POEMs: patient-oriented evidence that matters)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Clinical question Should adults be screened routinely for thyroid disease? Bottom line The United States Preventive Services Task Force concludes there is insufficient evidence to recommend for or against thyroid screening in adults....

Routine heart disease screening not recommended.(POEMs: patient-oriented evidence that matters)
May 1, 2004... Clinical question Should high-tech means of screening be used to identify heart disease in asymptomatic individuals? Bottom line The Untied States Preventive Services Task Force recommends against routine screening of adults at low risk of...

Low back pain: proper mental conditioning helpful.(POEMs: patient-oriented evidence that matters)
May 1, 2004... Clinical question Can patients with disabling back pain get back to work faster using operant conditioning? Bottom line An approach to low back pain that focused on conditioning patients to understand that they could function normally...

Predictors of bacteremia in elderly with community-acquired pneumonia.(POEMs: patient-oriented evidence that matters)
May 1, 2004... Clinical question What factors predict bacteremia in elderly patients with community-acquired pneumonia? Bottom line Among elderly patients with community-acquired pneumonia, the combination of comorbid liver disease, various clinical...

LMW heparin effective for PE.(POEMs: patient-oriented evidence that matters)(low-molecular-weight heparin )(pulmonary embolism)
May 1, 2004... Clinical question Is low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) as effective as adjusted-dose heparin in the treatment of pulmonary embolism? Bottom line LMWH is as effective as adjusted-dose, unfractionated heparin in the treatment of...

Don't double steroid dose in deteriorating asthma.(POEMs: patient-oriented evidence that matters)
May 1, 2004... Clinical question Does doubling the dose of inhaled steroids help patients with deteriorating asthma control? Bottom line A commonly recommended strategy of doubling the dose of inhaled steroids in patients with deteriorating asthma control...