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

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

Alabama Supreme Court requires payment for PA services.(From the AAPA: news of current interest)(physician assistants)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... In a narrow but significant 5-4 decision, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama (BCBSA) must abide by a state law requiring payment for services provided by PAs. The decision, issued July 16, is the latest in a...

AAPA insurance update.(From the AAPA: news of current interest)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... The AAPA's professional liability insurance underwriter has made a corporate decision to increase the premium rates effective for all new and renewing policies. If you are currently insured through the AAPA program, you will receive notice very...

IOM report calls for guaranteed health coverage for all Americans by 2010.(From the AAPA: news of current interest)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... PAs and other medical professionals continue to confront a growing percentage of patients who do not have health insurance. It should come as welcome news that a report recently issued by the National Academy of Sciences recommends guaranteed...

Join the celebration! National Physician Assistant Week.(From the AAPA: news of current interest)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... At its meeting in June, the AAPA House of Delegates voted to change the traditional PA Bay celebration to Physician Assistant Week, October 6-12. This celebration honors all PAs for the quality care they provide to millions of Americans. The...

Your chance to do the right thing.(presidential candidates' views on health reform)(Editorial)
September 1, 2004... Not often in these complex lives of ours can we look at a situation and see that we have a clear-cut choice. I believe we are in that situation now, however and that we have an opportunity--in fact, an obligation--to do the right thing. I'm...

The case of the missing evidence: antidepressant use in children.(In the news: commentary on advances in medicine)
September 1, 2004... We are all aware that depression in children is poorly recognized and undertreated and that depressed adolescents are at significant risk for suicide In recent years, it has become commonplace for primary care clinicians to start such patients...

Don't overlook childhood depression: an effective approach to childhood depression requires that you maintain a high index of suspicion and understand the disorder's full spectrum of manifestations.(Recertification Refresher)(Cover Story)
September 1, 2004... Although children once were thought to lack the emotional and cognitive ability to experience depressive symptoms, we now know that a range of mood disorders, including major depressive disorder (MDD), can affect children and adolescents. Mood...

Dry skin: common causes, effective treatments: ruling out systemic causes is the first step to diagnosing xerosis, and patient education is the key to management. The good news is that dry skin can usually be managed effectively and inexpensively.
September 1, 2004... During the winter, dry skin, or xerosis, occurs in more than 75% of persons who live north of the 37th parallel in the United States (roughly the northern half of the country). (1) Dry skin is more common among those who have Fitzpatrick skin...

CME post-test: expiration date September 2005.
September 1, 2004... AAPA members: Please take this CME Post-test online at www.aapa.org. Louters LL. Don't overlook childhood depression, JAAPA. 2004;17(9):18-24. Greenberg M, Galiczynski H, Galiczynski EM Jr. Dry skin: Common causes, effective...

Multiple myeloma: patients with multiple myeloma may present with bone pain, renal failure, anemia, or immune deficiency. Chemotherapy alone or followed by stem cell transplantation is the treatment.(Case Report)
September 1, 2004... The patient was an 83-year-old white woman who was recovering from uncomplicated open abdominal cholecystectomy for cholelithiasis and chronic cholecystitis. In the evening before her scheduled release from the hospital, she developed acute...

Are cardioselective [beta]-blockers safe to use perioperatively in patients with COPD?(CAT clinic: critically appraised topics)(chronic obstruction pulmonary disease)
September 1, 2004... A 75-year-old man is scheduled to undergo surgical repair for a hip fracture the next day, and you are asked to perform a preoperative cardiovascular risk assessment. The patient's medical history is significant for former tobacco abuse,...

Diversify the PA profession: a call to action.(Sounding board: JAAPA's op-ed department)(physician assistants)
September 1, 2004... Physician assistants can be an important part of the solution to the problems in the American health care system--but only if we increase the number of PAs of color. Diversifying the PA workforce can increase access to care for underserved...

Prostate CA relatively common even with PSA <4.0.(POEMs: Patient-oriented evidence that matters)
September 1, 2004... Clinical question How common is prostate cancer among men with a prostate-specific antigen level of 4.0 ng/mL or less? Bottom line Prostate cancer, even high-grade disease, is found in older men with a so-called normal prostate-specific...

Nonsurgical treatment effective for carpal tunnel.(POEMs: Patient-oriented evidence that matters)
September 1, 2004... Clinical question Are nonsurgical approaches to carpal tunnel syndrome effective? Bottom line In this systematic review, nonsurgical treatments of carpal tunnel syndrome using injected or oral steroids provided temporary relief....

Postmenopausal estrogen does not improve cognitive function.(POEMs: Patient-oriented evidence that matters)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Clinical question Does postmenopausal estrogen therapy improve global cognitive function? Bottom line Postmenopausal estrogen therapy does not improve--and may worsen--global cognitive function. Adverse effects may be more pronounced in...

CME calendar.(Calendar)
September 1, 2004... CALIFORNIA October 22-24 28th Annual Conference. Where: Palm Springs. Provider: California Academy of Physician Assistants. Information: www.capanet.org. HAWAII October 11-15 Annual CME Conference. Where: Honolulu....

ILt. William A. Zarychta, MPAS, PA-C.(Case of the month: diagnostic challenges from your case files)
September 1, 2004... CASE The patient is a 35-year-old white woman who presented to the emergency department with a complaint of upper lumbar back pain for 1 week that waxed and waned. It increased with palpation of the right paraspinus muscle and with active...