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

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

Flu vaccine shortage.(From the AAPA: news of current interest)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... The CDC has announced that only half of the expected supply of trivalent inactivated vaccine will be available in the United States for the 2004-2005 influenza season. Because of the urgent situation, the CDC, in coordination with its Advisory...

AAPA joins asthma coalition.(From the AAPA: news of current interest)(Asthma Action America)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... The AAPA has joined more than 20 health and civic groups supporting Asthma Action America, a public health education campaign to increase awareness of asthma and drive home the importance of effective asthma management. Asthma Action...

DEA releases pain medication FAQs.(From the AAPA: news of current interest)(US Drug Enforcement Administration)
November 1, 2004... PAs concerned about being scrutinized for prescribing controlled pain medications now have another source of guidance, straight from the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). On August 11, 2004, the DEA released a set of 30 frequently asked...

AAPA members enjoy free CME.(From the AAPA: news of current interest)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Are you taking advantage of all the CME opportunities available to you? The AAPA Web site lists more than 40 hours of free CME credit available to members. Topics cover a wide range of conditions, including asthma, seizures, oral health,...

CME requirements get easier.(From the AAPA: news of current interest)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Effective next year, PAs face a simpler formula for meeting their CME requirements to maintain national certification. PAs must earn and log at least 100 CME hours, including at least 50 Category I hours, every 2 years. No more complicated...

Get your certificate immediately.(From the AAPA: news of current interest)
November 1, 2004... 0f the thousands of post-tests submitted each month, about 700 are received by mail. PAs who use the mail may have to wait 4 to 6 weeks to receive their certificates. Feature Online Cost to members ...

NCCPA toughens anticheating effort.(From the AAPA: news of current interest)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... The NCCPA has taken steps that it believes will discourage the recurrence of cheating, following an incident last fall involving the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination. The NCCPA issued a $10,000 fine, revoked certification,...

A call for policy action.(Guest Editorial)
November 1, 2004... Why is a policy wonk like me interested in patient adherence? Allow me, for a moment, to take off my hat as EVP/CEO of the AAPA and speak as one who has been concerned about this issue for a long time. Isn't adherence mostly a matter of the...

Promoting adherence, one patient at a time.(Guest Editorial)(Editorial)
November 1, 2004... As clinicians, we PAs make many assumptions about our communication skills. Most of us feel that we are compassionate and skilled communicators and that we can collect the information we need from the patient at every encounter. During these...

Evidence-based strategies to foster adherence and improve patient outcomes: the author's recent meta-analysis indicates that patients do not follow treatment recommendations unless they know what to do, are committed to doing it, and have the resources to be able to adhere.
November 1, 2004... KEY POINTS in this article * The author has used meta-analysis to combine studies in an effort to understand the many predictors and outcomes of patient adherence, with the goal of making usable recommendations for health professionals. ...

How effective communication promotes better health outcomes: talking with patients is a procedure--the most commonly performed intervention during clinical encounters--and doing it well requires practice and experience.
November 1, 2004... KEY POINTS in this article * Four communication or relationship tasks must be performed during the medical encounter to ensure maximal benefit for the patient and the clinician. * These tasks are engagement, empathy, education, and...

A patient-centered approach to chronic disease management: by collaborating effectively with patients who have chronic disease, clinicians can provide the kind of care that increases adherence, improves outcomes, and promotes better quality of life.
November 1, 2004... KEY POINTS in this article * Patients with chronic medical conditions need extensive education and support if they are to learn to care for themselves effectively. * Using a patient-centered approach, clinicians can provide more...

Operational supports to improve adherence: strategies from the field: GreenField Health offers patients a relationship with providers that is built on mutual trust and respect, unparalleled service and convenience, and medical care that is simply and reliably the best.
November 1, 2004... KEY POINTS in this article * Health care professionals must increase their focus on the systems that support how care is provided and information is communicated, whether by personnel or technology. * Adherence can be enhanced...

Online resources to learn more about patient adherence.
November 1, 2004... Improving patient compliance Mary S. Stone, MA; Sheryl J. Bronkesh, MBA; Zachary B. Gerbarg, MD; Steven D. Wood, PhD www.hsmgroup.com/info/compli/compli.html This article from the January 1998 issue of Strategic Medicine lists...

CME post-test.
November 1, 2004... EXPIRATION DATE NOVEMBER 2005 AAPA members: Please take this CME Post-test online at www.aapa.org. DiMatteo MR. Evidence-based strategies to foster adherence and improve patient outcomes. JAAPA. 2004;17(11):18-21. Seidel RW. How...

Dietary cactus reduces blood glucose levels in a Hispanic man: the patient mentioned that, at the suggestion of family members from Mexico, he had started eating cactus daily to control his diabetes immediately after receiving the diagnosis.(Case Report)
November 1, 2004... Case A 53-year-old Hispanic man presented to a community health center complaining of excessive thirst and frequent urination for the past 3 weeks. He was otherwise feeling fine, but he was worried about having diabetes. He was familiar...

Current approaches to preventing osteoporosis: a healthy lifestyle helps protect against bone loss and includes diet, calcium supplementation, exercise, and avoidance of tobacco products and excessive alcohol consumption. Drug therapy can also be useful.
November 1, 2004... Osteoporosis, the most common metabolic bone disease in the world, is marked by decreased bone density and microarchitectural deterioration, causing the bones to become fragile. (1,2) Osteoporosis is considered a silent disease since bone loss...

A persistent auricular rash in a 12-year-old girl.(Dermatology Digest: a derm photo quiz)
November 1, 2004... A 12-year-old girl was referred for evaluation of a slightly itchy rash that had been present in both external ears for more than 2 years. She was treated with several prescription and OTC medications--including 1% hydrocortisone cream,...

SSRIs provide modest benefit in selected patients with IBS.(POEMs: Patient-oriented evidence that matters)(selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors)
November 1, 2004... Clinical question Are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors effective for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome? Bottom line Paroxetine (Paxil) in a dosage of 10 to 40 mg per day provides at least a small benefit in terms of overall...

Omeprazole 20 mg = 40 mg for primary care acid-related dyspepsia.(POEMs: Patient-oriented evidence that matters)
November 1, 2004... Clinical question Is 40 mg omeprazole more effective than 20 mg for primary care patients with dyspepsia? Bottom line Omeprazole (Prilosec) 20 mg is highly effective for the treatment of acid-related dyspepsia. There was no advantage...

MRI more accurate than mammogram in high-risk patients.(POEMs: Patient-oriented evidence that matters)(magnetic resonance imaging)
November 1, 2004... Clinical question Is magnetic resonance imaging more accurate than mammography in women at high risk of breast cancer? Bottom line Magnetic resonance imaging is better at ruling out breast cancer (i.e., more sensitive) than mammography, but...

Contagiousness of breakthrough varicella varies with lesion number.(POEMs: Patient-oriented evidence that matters)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Clinical question How contagious is breakthrough varicelia acquired by vaccinated individuals? Bottom line Patients who acquire varicella with 50 lesions or more despite vaccination are as contagious as unvaccinated individuals with...

AEDs increase number of survivors to discharge of out-of-hospital CPR.(POEMs: Patient-oriented evidence that matters)(automated external defibrillators)
November 1, 2004... Clinical question Do automated external defibrillators save lives? Bottom line Automated external defibrillators accompanied by an intensive training program of local volunteers results in a greater number of patients surviving to hospital...

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

Diagnostic challenges from your case files.(Case of the Month)(Kartagener's syndrome)
November 1, 2004... CASE The patient is a 6-month-old boy who was brought to the clinic by his mother because he has had a "very wet cough," a light wheeze, and nonpurulent nasal discharge for 3 days. These signs are accompanied by a low-grade fever, a slight...