JAAPA-Journal of the American Academy of Physicians Assistants articles from November 2006

JAAPA-Journal of the American Academy of Physicians Assistants archives from November 2006

AAPA posts 2006 physician assistant census data.(American Academy of Physician Assistants)
November 1, 2006... More than 23,000 PAs responded this year to AAPA's Annual Physician Assistant Census survey, the results of which were released on October 6, the beginning of National Physician Assistant Week. Every year, AAPA staff collect and analyze data to...

Postgraduate PA program accreditation.(Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant )(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) has developed draft standards for the accreditation of postgraduate PA educational programs. The draft standards have been posted on the ARC-PA Web site at...

Partnership for Prescription Assistance helps more than 3.3 million patients.(American Academy of Physician Assistants)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... The Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA), which offers a single point of contact to more than 475 public and private patient assistance programs, has benefited more than 3.3 million patients around the country. AAPA is a participating...

The costs of war and cookie dough.(Iraq war)(Editorial)
November 1, 2006... I cringe at least once a day, including weekends, when I watch the nightly news and see pictures of the increasing number of dead and injured people, both military and civilian, in Iraq, Afghanistan, Israel, and other countries. The nightly...

Strengthening the profession's future.(American Academy of Physician Assistants)
November 1, 2006... Ensuring your ability to practice * On September 20, US Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ) introduced H.R. 6118, the Medicare Physician Assistant Continuity of Care Act of 2006, following a meeting organized through the AAPA's Congressional Visit...

Obstructive sleep apnea and cognitive dysfunction: obstructive sleep apnea frequently goes undiagnosed, even as it impairs cardiovascular and cognitive function. The effects on quality of life and the economic costs are high.(Disease/Disorder overview)
November 1, 2006... Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) affects up to 5% of the population in Western countries, but as many as 80% of cases remain undiagnosed. (1,2) Prevalence increases with age, peaking at approximately 60 years. (1,3) Although 1 in 5 adults has mild...

Diagnosis and management of chronic constipation: diagnosis is a challenge because patients and clinicians often define constipation differently. The history, physical examination, and appropriate diagnostic procedures are key.(Disease/Disorder overview)
November 1, 2006... Constipation is a common GI motility disorder that affects 2% to 27% of North Americans, with most estimates at 12% to 19%. (1) Constipation afflicts more than twice as many women as men. (1) Although most people experience occasional bouts of...

CME posttest.
November 1, 2006... EXPIRATION DATE NOVEMBER 2007 AAPA members: Please take this CME posttest online at www.aapa.org. Felmet KA, Petersen M. Obstructive sleep apnea and cognitive dysfunction. JAAPA. 2006;19(11):16-20. Drost J, Harris LA. Diagnosis and...

The patient with cold hands understanding Raynaud's disease: acute attacks are predictable and manifest in classic ways, but be sure to look beyond the obvious to rule out possible underlying diseases, including those that can mimic the signs and symptoms of Raynaud's.(Disease/Disorder overview)
November 1, 2006... Most common among women younger than 30 years, Raynaud's disease is an idiopathic, vasospastic disorder that affects an estimated 10% of the US adult population. Many patients with the condition also suffer from migraine headaches and chronic...

Botulism rare, but deadly: an outbreak of botulism would be a medical and public health emergency requiring immediate government intervention. Up-to-date knowledge of diagnosis and treatment is essential.(Disease/Disorder overview)
November 1, 2006... Clostridium botulinum is a spore-forming, gram-positive anaerobic bacillus found in the soil and in sediments of streams, lakes, and coastal waters throughout the world. Botulinum toxin is one of the clostridial neurotoxins, and its extreme...

An endovascular approach to the treatment of intracranial aneurysms.(Disease/Disorder overview)
November 1, 2006... Although aneurysms occurring anywhere in the body can be problematic, aneurysms within the cerebrovasculature are especially problematic because the brain is the end organ. Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) caused by rupture of an intracranial...

Plain films show the most common hip problem of adolescence.(slipped capital femoral epiphysis)(Disease/Disorder overview)
November 1, 2006... CASE The patient is a 13-year-old boy with pain in the left thigh and no history of trauma. His symptoms started about 2 months ago and have gradually worsened. The boy's mother reports that over the past 2 weeks, he has started to limp....

Dramatic signs with cranial nerve deficit.(Disease/Disorder overview)
November 1, 2006... The patient, a 54-year-old-woman, presents to the dermatology office for evaluation of a possible skin infection on her left ear which has been ongoing for several weeks. She denies any fever or chills; however, she has noted occasional...

Work stress has no meaningful effect on BP.(Patient-oriented evidence that matters)(blood pressure)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... Clinical question Does work stress increase BP? Bottom line Work stress has no meaningful effect on BP. (Level of evidence = 1b) Guimont C, Brisson C, Dagenais GR, et al. Effects of job strain on blood pressure: a prospective study of...

Most women quickly stop taking bisphosphonates.(Patient-oriented evidence that matters)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
November 1, 2006... Clinical question Do women continue osteoporosis therapy for a meaningful period? Bottom line Approximately half the women initially prescribed a bisphosphonate--daily or weekly treatment--will not be taking it after 3 months, and only one...

CME calendar.(Calendar)
November 1, 2006... ARIZONA March 28-31, 2007 ASAPA Spring 2007 Primary Care Conference. Where: Sedona. Provider: Arizona State Association of PAs. Information: www.asapa.org. COLORADO January 13-15, 2007 23rd Annual Ski & CME Meeting....

Case of the month: diagnostic challenges from your case files.(bilirubinuria due to Gilbert's syndrome)(Disease/Disorder overview)
November 1, 2006... CASE The patient is a 54-year-old man who works as an organic chemist, a job that could expose him to known carcinogens. He presented to his primary care provider for an annual physical examination, which showed him to be in good health....