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

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

Canadian Medical Association accredits first PA program.(News of current interest)(physician assistant program)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... The PA profession in Canada took a major step when the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) gave final approval in August to accredit the first PA program in that country at the Canadian Forces Medical Services School (CFMSS) in Borden, Ontario....

FSMB releases pain treatment guidelines.(News of current interest)(Federation of State Medical Boards )
October 1, 2004... The Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) has released a policy aimed at easing the uncertainty clinicians may have about prescribing pain medications that have the potential for abuse. The Model Policy for the Use of Controlled Substances...

AAPA awards open for nominations.(News of current interest)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Since 1981, the Academy's awards programs have recognized outstanding members, constituent organizations, and student societies that have distinguished themselves in service to patients, the community, the profession, and the Academy. Now is...

Thoughts regarding Veterans Day.(Guest Editorial)(identifying and treating post-traumatic stress disorder)
October 1, 2004... This past summer, I did what many of you have done before and many will do yet: I visited my father's grave in Arlington National Cemetery. My father was a navy seaman who fought in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. Many of my choices, such as...

Sorting out common causes of abnormal vaginal discharge: empiric treatment of abnormal vaginal discharge is often inappropriate. Laboratory studies--including simple microscopy and pH testing--are essential first steps in diagnosing the cause of this common complaint.(Recertification Refresher)
October 1, 2004... Abnormal vaginal discharge is a common chief complaint among women who have one of the many noninfectious or infectious causes of vulvovaginitis, and it accounts for approximately 10 million visits to gynecology and family medicine clinicians...

Minimizing perioperative complications with an effective preop evaluation: once you've established the patient's cardiac status, the next step is to optimize chronic conditions--and then to recommend a plan of care for continued perioperative management.(Perioperative Management)
October 1, 2004... Primary care providers (PCPs) frequently perform preoperative evaluations to identify conditions that may cause perioperative complications and to minimize morbidity and mortality. A May 2004 JAAPA article, "The preoperative cardiac risk...

CME: post-test.(answers to continuing medical eduction quiz )
October 1, 2004... EXPIRATION DATE OCTOBER 2005 AAPA members: Please take this CME Post-test online at www.aapa.org. Sheeley A. Sorting out common causes of abnormal vaginal discharge. JAAPA 2004;17(10):15,16,18-20,22. Kaufman TM. Minimizing...

Physician assistant vocational satisfaction.(Research Article)
October 1, 2004... ABSTRACT Physician assistants (PAs) are known to be highly satisfied with their vocational choices, but the reasons for this high degree of satisfaction are not known. The author mailed a survey to 2,323 PAs whose names were randomly...

A puzzling, persistent rash under the breasts.(Dermatology digest: a derm photo quiz)(intertrigo)
October 1, 2004... A 69-year-old woman arrives at the dermatology clinic with a complaint of a recurrent "yeast infection" under her breasts causing itching and irritation (see Figure 1). These symptoms did not respond to any of the OTC and prescription topical...

Trial of labor after cesarean section is pretty safe.(Poems: patient-oriented evidence that matters)
October 1, 2004... Clinical question How risky is a trial of labor after cesarean delivery for uterine rupture? Bottom line Based the best research we have, as compared with trial of labor, approximately 370 elective repeat cesarean sections (ERCSs) would...

Outcomes for thiazides similar.(Poems: patient-oriented evidence that matters)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Clinical question Are health outcomes similar for chlor-thalidone and other thiazide-type diuretics used to treat hypertension? Bottom line The benefits are similar when treating hypertension with chlorthalidone or other thiazide-type...

Donepezil ineffective in long-term Tx of dementia.(Poems: patient-oriented evidence that matters)
October 1, 2004... Clinical question Does donepezil provide clinically meaningful benefits in typical patients with Alzheimer's disease? Bottom line Long-term use of donepezil (Aricept) provides minimal improvement in cognition and provides no benefit in...

CME calendar.(Calendar)
October 1, 2004... CALIFORNIA February 23-27, 2005 14th Annual Winter PA Board Review. Where: Pasadena. Provider: Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California PA program. Information: www.usc.edu/cme. FLORIDA November 10-14...

Case of the month: diagnostic challenges from your case files.(non-small cell lung cancer)
October 1, 2004... The patient is a 77-year-old white man who presented to a rural hospital clinic with a chief complaint of hoarseness of voice and occasional cough. His wife stated that he had had an increase in the gruffness of his voice for the past 2 to 3...