JAAPA-Journal of the American Academy of Physicians Assistants articles from October 2007

JAAPA-Journal of the American Academy of Physicians Assistants archives from October 2007

Visits with PAs have shorter wait times.(FROM THE AAPA)(physicians' assistants)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... A recent report by the health care research firm Press Ganey Associates stated that patients report higher satisfaction when scheduling an appointment with a PA than when trying to schedule an appointment with another health professional at the...

New tamper-resistant prescription law.(FROM THE AAPA)
October 1, 2007... Health care providers who treat Medicaid patients are required to use tamper-resistant prescription pads, electronic prescribing, or faxes for all their Medicaid patients as of October 1. The rule is an effort to damp down on Medicaid fraud and...

Search for AAPA EVP under way.(FROM THE AAPA)(executive vice president of the American Academy of Physician Assistants)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... AAPA's EVP Search Committee has contracted with Russell Reynolds Associates (RRA) to conduct an executive search to find a replacement for AAPA Executive Vice President/CEO Steve Crane, who resigned effective August 31. Mary Ettari, AAPA chair...

Correction.(Correction notice)
October 1, 2007... "Treatment of STDs: Updated guidelines from the CDC" (Clinical Watch, July 2007, page 18) stated the treatment recommendations for trichomoniasis incorrectly. The text should have said, "Finally, new treatment recommendations for trichomoniasis...

You have the power to prevent a parent's worst nightmare.(EDITORIAL)
October 1, 2007... Educating patients is one of the most crucial roles we play as clinicians, whether we're talking about the value of diet and exercise, the importance of vaccinations, or the adverse effects of medications. I recently became acutely aware of a...

Product: AzaSite.(New Drug Information)(Drug overview)
October 1, 2007... FROM THE EDITORS OF THE PAPR PRODUCT: AzaSite COMPANY: Inspire PHARMACOLOGIC CLASS: Antibiotic (macrolide) ACTIVE INGREDIENT: Azithromycin 1%; ophthalmic solution; contains benzalkonium chloride. INDICATION: Susceptible...

Reaction to OTC cream identifies rash.(Dermatology Digest)(over-the-counter)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * CASE The patient is a 52-year-old man who has suffered from an itchy rash on his chest for more than 20 years. He had consulted any number of health care providers in that time and tried several prescription...

A day in the life.(physician assistant)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] As a PA student, I aspired to a high-intensity career in emergency medicine or surgery. I thought that working in one of these areas would let me use all my new knowledge and expend all the energy and enthusiasm I...

Hepatitis C virus infection: a current review: the standard therapy for hepatitis C cures 40% to 50% of infections, but new treatments now being studied in clinical trials may improve these numbers.(CME)(Disease/Disorder overview)
October 1, 2007... LEARNING OBJECTIVES * Outline the epidemiology of hepatitis C, how it is transmitted, and what can be done to prevent it * Describe the natural history, clinical presentation, and diagnosis of hepatitis C * Discuss the standard of...

Prompt recognition of a rare type of infectious arthritis: most clinicians have never seen this type of infectious arthritis. Fortunately, this patient received a rapid diagnosis and ultimately underwent successful treatment.(CASE REPORT)(Case study)
October 1, 2007... CASE A 50-year-old female presented to the Intermountain Spine Institute with a complaint of severe back, right flank, and right thigh pain of approximately 2 months duration. She denied a history of injury or other inciting incident. She...

Mind-body-spirit medicine: interventions and resources: MBS techniques can help patients who are afflicted with a wide variety of chronic conditions. This concise review helps you decide which to recommend.
October 1, 2007... It is more important to know what sort of person has a disease than to know what sort of disease a person has. --Hippocrates The Competencies for the Physician Assistant Profession define the professional skills needed for practice as...

Should patients with diabetes follow a low-carb diet? Before you recommend a low-carbohydrate diet for weight loss, read this review of the effect these diets can have on a patient with type 2 diabetes.
October 1, 2007... Type 2 diabetes is a heterogeneous disorder characterized by variable plasma insulin levels with associated hyperglycemia and peripheral insulin resistance. Postinsulin-receptor impairments include altered glucose transporter function and...

Oral cancer: how to find this hidden killer in 2 minutes: a brief, simple assessment can save lives, possibly because you may be the only provider to thoroughly examine the inside of the patient's mouth.(CME)(Disease/Disorder overview)(Cover story)
October 1, 2007... LEARNING OBJECTIVES * Identify the risk factors for oral cancer * Describe signs and symptoms commonly associated with oral cancer * List the steps performed in a comprehensive oral examination * Describe appropriate follow-up...

CME posttest: expiration date: October 2008.(continuing medical education)
October 1, 2007... AAPA members: Please take this CME posttest online at www.aapa.org. Senecal DL, Morelli J. Hepatitis C virus infection: A current review. JAAPA. 2007;20(10):21-25. Rizzolo D, Hanifin C, Chiodo TA. Oral cancer: How to find this hidden killer...

Say "no" to unnecessary antibiotics.(SOUNDING BOARD)
October 1, 2007... Picture this: you are a primary care clinician in a busy outpatient office. So far, the morning has been pleasant and uneventful. But, lurking behind the door of exam room 1 is your next patient, a 33-year-old man whose chief complaint is that...

Coenzyme Q10 is ineffective in Parkinson's disease.(Patient-oriented evidence that matters)
October 1, 2007... Clinical question Does coenzyme Q10 improve symptoms in patients with midstage Parkinson's disease? Bottom line Coenzyme Q10, when added to stable drug regimens, is no better than placebo in improving symptoms of midstage Parkinson's...

Surgery is not recommended for asymptomatic HPT.(Patient-oriented evidence that matters)
October 1, 2007... Clinical question Does surgery benefit patients with asymptomatic hyperparathyroidism (HPT)? Bottom line Observation is safe for patients with asymptomatic HPT. Surgery improves biochemical measures but does not improve quality of life....

Probiotic yogurt prevents antibiotic-associated diarrhea.(Patient-oriented evidence that matters)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... Clinical question Clan a yogurt product prevent diarrhea in older, hospitalized patients treated with antibiotics? Bottom line A probiotic yogurt drink containing active bacterial cultures decreased the likelihood of diarrhea following...

Abdominal pain in a man with hepatitis C.(Case study)
October 1, 2007... [FIGURE 1 OMITTED] CASE An 80-year-old man presented with right upper quadrant abdominal pain. He denied nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation. Urinalysis results were negative and the WBC count was normal, but liver function...

Patient attitudes toward physician assistants.(Research Corner)
October 1, 2007... Surveys of patient attitudes toward physician assistants began early in the profession's history. However, once the profession became established, the number of studies addressing the question of how patients regarded physician assistants...

PAs in geriatric medicine.(Specialty Update: FOCUS ON PA SPECIALTY ORGANIZATIONS)(physicians' assistant)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... PAs in geriatric medicine will be able to better serve their patients under two bills actively supported by AAPA. These legislative changes are necessary to ensure Medicare beneficiaries' access to needed health care services. At present, PAs...

Society for PAs Caring for the Elderly (SPACE).(Specialty Update: FOCUS ON PA SPECIALTY ORGANIZATIONS)(physicians' assistants)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... SPACE was created to educate physician assistants about the biopsychosocial aspects of geriatrics, to provide physician assistants already providing geriatric services with a forum for discussing the art of geriatric care and the common goals...

PAs in dermatology.(Specialty Update: FOCUS ON PA SPECIALTY ORGANIZATIONS)(physicians' assistants)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... PAs in dermatology made up less than 1% of the physician assistant population in 1996. By 2006, the specialty area had grown to more than 3%. By all accounts, the number of physician assistants in this specialty area will continue to grow. So...

Society of Dermatology Physician Assistants (SDPA).(Specialty Update: FOCUS ON PA SPECIALTY ORGANIZATIONS)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... A key issue facing SDPA is dermatologists' increasing demand for more dermatology educational opportunities for physician assistants. SDPA works continuously with the AAD on ways to meet these objectives. * SDPA-sponsored CME opportunities...

Case of the month.(Case study)
October 1, 2007... [FIGURE 1 OMITTED] * CASE The patient is a 27-year-old female who presented with progressive neck pain and extremity weakness. She described the pain as a constant, dull ache that radiated to her shoulders (the left more than the...