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June 2008 - Posts

ADVANCE Blog for PAs

Beets!
June 30, 2008 5:06 PM by Stephen Cornell
Beets are No. 1, according to the New York Times . Beets link On a related note, I liked this press release from the American Institute of Cancer Research on the "season's bounty of cancer-protective produce." WASHINGTON, DC -- This summer, with food Read More...
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AAPA Announces Dues Increase
June 30, 2008 10:53 AM by Stephen Cornell
The AAPA posted an official announcement of its upcoming dues increase on its Web site on Friday. The cost of an annual AAPA membership will increase from $215 to $250. The increase takes effect on Sept. 1. The increase was approved during the HOD's 2008 Read More...
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Life of a PA (Student)
June 27, 2008 3:26 PM by Stephen Cornell
I like this relatively new PA student blog . There's not a ton of content, but the Medical College of Georgia student does update it a lot. He is on Day 33 of PA school. Link Read More...
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PA Google Searches Decreasing
June 27, 2008 2:51 PM by Stephen Cornell
The number of Google searches for "physician assistants" seems to have decreased over the last five years, according to Google Trends. Does that mean more people know about PAs and don't have to search the Internet to find out about the profession? I Read More...
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San Antonio Revisited
June 27, 2008 11:14 AM by Stephen Cornell
I tried to wrap up the AAPA conference blog posts three weeks ago because I felt like the topic was getting a little stale, but the June 30 issue of AAPA News is chock full of articles from San Antonio . Some tidbits: The two-page article on the International Read More...
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Reimbursement Woes Drive PAs from Alabama
June 27, 2008 9:25 AM by Stephen Cornell
United Surgical Assistants is leaving the state of Alabama because of problems receiving reimbursement for PA services from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama, according to an article in today's Birmingham News . Tampa-based United Surgical Assistants Read More...
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New PA Students Intend to Practice Primary Care
June 26, 2008 2:52 PM by Stephen Cornell
In the AAPA's 2007 New PA Student Census Survey, 2,272 of 5,165 respondents (44%) stated that they intended to practice in family/general medicine after graduation (respondents are permitted to mark more than one potential specialty). At least at the Read More...
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PA Visibility (or Invisibility)
June 26, 2008 11:12 AM by Stephen Cornell
There has been very little in the news about PAs recently. It's almost as if the profession's public profile is actually becoming lower. A Google News search for "physician assistant" this morning returned 283 hits. A search for "nurse practitioner" returned Read More...
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Health Care Spies
June 25, 2008 2:21 PM by Stephen Cornell
From the ADVANCE for NPs blog: A woman comes in to see you about migraines. You take a history, you spend time getting to know her, you treat her to the best of your ability. But what would you do if you found out she was hired to "fake" her illness to Read More...
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House Votes to Postpone Medicare Cuts
June 25, 2008 1:24 PM by Stephen Cornell
The House voted to postpone planned cuts in Medicare payments, according to the Washington Post . By a surprisingly large bipartisan margin, the House voted yesterday to postpone a planned cut in payments to physicians who treat Medicare patients by approving Read More...
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Health Care Humor
June 24, 2008 2:06 PM by Stephen Cornell
Longtime ADVANCE for Managers of Respiratory Care contributor and respiratory care practitioner Brent Swager is the undisputed master of the funny health care essay . Here's an excerpt from Swager's June column. That's two dollars for the coffee," the Read More...
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AAPA Photo Galleries
June 24, 2008 1:20 PM by Stephen Cornell
The AAPA has posted a bunch of photos from the 27th International Reggae and World Music Awards and the 2007 and 2008 PA conferences on Flicker at www.flickr.com/photos/aapa/ Link There are also a ton of 2008 AAPA conference photos here Read More...
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Periodic Pediatric Fever Mystery
June 24, 2008 11:08 AM by Stephen Cornell
The Washington Post published an article today about mysterious periodic fevers in pediatric patients. Those were the hours when whatever was wrong with his baby daughter Claire seemed most terrifying, when alternating doses of Motrin and Tylenol did Read More...
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What's a PA?
June 23, 2008 1:13 PM by Stephen Cornell
I feel like I have been reading slight variations of this article since 1996 . Link Read More...
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Western-Style Health Care in China
June 23, 2008 12:54 PM by Stephen Cornell
In the absence of any scintillating PA-specific news, the Washington Post has an interesting article about a company trying to introduce Western-style for-profit health care in China. And, in a way, it speaks volumes about how a foreign company is breaking Read More...
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PAEA Forum Information Online
June 20, 2008 10:37 AM by Stephen Cornell
Preliminary information about the 2008 PAEA Annual Education Forum is available on the association's Web site at www.paeaonline.org/Meetings/EdForum2008/2008EducationForum.html . The forum will be held at the Hyatt Regency in Savannah, Ga., from Oct. Read More...
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New York Man Arrested in PA-Related ED Incident
June 19, 2008 9:49 AM by Stephen Cornell
This guy really is not on board with the PA concept . Walter S. Duggan, 55, was charged with fourth-degree criminal mischief after the 3:40 a.m. incident at the hospital, said Glens Falls Police Sgt. Keith Knoop. Duggan had gone to the emergency room Read More...
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AMA to Examine the Ethics of PAs Employing Supervising Physicians
June 18, 2008 5:04 PM by Stephen Cornell
The AMA House of Delegates adopted a resolution asking the AMA to look at the ethics surrounding physician extenders employing their supervising physicians . HOD ACTION: Resolution 13 adopted. This resolution asks the AMA to define the ethical boundaries Read More...
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AMA Asks Presidential Candidates 10 Questions
June 18, 2008 3:48 PM by Stephen Cornell
The AMA asked Barack Obama and John McCain 10 questions about their health care proposals and posted the responses on its Web site. A key objective of the American Medical Association’s (AMA) “Voice for the Uninsured” campaign has been to bring national Read More...
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Many Docs Not Happy
June 17, 2008 6:02 PM by Stephen Cornell
An essay about unhappy physicians is one of the most popular articles on the New York Times Web site. As a physician, I could empathize. I too often feel overwhelmed with paperwork. But my friend’s discontent seemed to run much deeper than that. Unfortunately, Read More...
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Medical Mystery
June 16, 2008 5:27 PM by Stephen Cornell
From the New York Times , an article about stroke symptoms in an adolescent. The boy was sitting in his 10th-grade math class at a high school in Atlanta when he had his first attack. He does not remember what happened, but his classmates noticed that Read More...
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Ultramarathon PA Profiled
June 16, 2008 12:10 PM by Stephen Cornell
The Seattle Times profiled PA Van Phan , who ran 51 races of at least marathon distance in 2007. Van Phan runs. And runs and runs and runs. In 2006 she ran 53 races of at least marathon distance (26 miles, 385 yards): 29 ultramarathons and 24 plain-old Read More...
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AMA Resolution Seeks Limits on PA and NP Clinic Ownership
June 13, 2008 5:18 PM by Stephen Cornell
The Ohio delegation to the AMA House of Delegates is seeking possible limits on PAs' and NPs' abilities to own clinics and hire supervising or collaborating physicians. Whereas, Societal expectations inherent in a statutorily defined physician duty to Read More...
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Idaho Paper Profiles PA Missionary
June 13, 2008 3:39 PM by Stephen Cornell
The Idaho Statesman recently profiled PA Marj Humphrey, who worked in Africa for many years. When she applied to be part of a volunteer mission group almost 20 years ago, Marj Humphrey assumed she'd go to a country that would utilize her Spanish-speaking Read More...
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PA Featured in Marie Claire Magazine
June 13, 2008 2:10 PM by Terri Schaefer
One of my favorite sections of the women’s magazine Marie Claire is “What I Love About Me,” which focuses on a different city each month. A number of women provide a quote about their favorite feature, which is published along with their photo. It was Read More...
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PA Authors Honored
June 12, 2008 3:43 PM by Stephen Cornell
The Society of National Association Publications honored PAs James W. Brasseur and C. Christopher Benner for articles written in 2007 for JAAPA . SNAP also honored JAAPA in the most improved scholarly journal category. Link Read More...
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Philadelphia Clinic Struggles to Remain Open
June 12, 2008 3:12 PM by Stephen Cornell
PA Michele Palos-Samsi is one of three health care providers at the St. Catherine Laboure Medical Clinic, which provides health care for uninsured patients in Philadelphia's Germantown neighborhood. The staff at St. Catherine Labouré Medical Clinic spent Read More...
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More than 140,000 Practicing PAs by 2020?
June 12, 2008 1:00 PM by Stephen Cornell
The AAPA has estimated the number of PAs in clinical practice by 2020. I just happened to notice the report on the academy's Web site this morning. Depending on the growth in the number of new graduates each year, the AAPA estimates that there will be Read More...
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Bad PA PR
June 12, 2008 10:35 AM by Stephen Cornell
I don't think this guy is really a PA. But this guy is a certified PA. Read More...
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Wisconsin PA on TV
June 11, 2008 4:59 PM by Stephen Cornell
Wisconsin PA Tom Tomlinson discussed ticks and Lyme disease on the local TV news. As the summer season gears up, so do the bugs and insects. Many say the ticks are bad this year. Tom Tomlinson, a Physician's Assistant at Luther Midelfort, says there's Read More...
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Duke PA Hall of Fame
June 11, 2008 4:23 PM by Stephen Cornell
Every once in a while, I like to visit the Web site of the Duke University PA program Hall of Fame . Since 1967, the Duke University Physician Assistant Program has graduated many talented and dedicated physician assistants who have made significant contributions Read More...
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PA Executioners
June 11, 2008 4:02 PM by Stephen Cornell
Arkansas names PAs as appropriate providers for administering lethal injections . The state's six-page execution protocol sets all the rules for the team that starts the two intravenous lines in an inmate's arm. The updated protocol requires those on Read More...
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Inadequate Health Insurance
June 10, 2008 5:35 PM by Stephen Cornell
Simply having health insurance isn't always good enough. About 25 million Americans — or approximately one of every five adults younger than age 65 with health insurance — did not have sufficient coverage last year to shield them from financial hardship Read More...
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AAPA Leadership Changes
June 10, 2008 5:08 PM by Stephen Cornell
The terms of office for the AAPA's 2008-2009 leaders officially begin today. Cynthia B. Lord, MHS, PA-C, is now AAPA president. The AAPA lists the entire board of directors at www.aapa.org/aapa/board.html Read More...
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Welcoming Wounded Soldiers
June 10, 2008 1:45 PM by Stephen Cornell
The Washington Post published an article today about the medical facility at Andrews Air Force, which is often the first stop for patients returning to the United States after being hurt in Iraq and Afghanistan. An hour before the C-17 touched down at Read More...
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NCCPA CME Deadline
June 9, 2008 3:30 PM by Stephen Cornell
June 30 is the last day to earn and log CME and pay the certification maintenance fee without paying a late fee. Link Read More...
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Obituary for James Gallagher, PA-C
June 9, 2008 2:59 PM by Stephen Cornell
The Philadelphia Inquirer recently published an obituary for PA James Gallagher , who became a PA following treatment for a brain tumor. Gallagher practiced at St. Catherine Leboure Medical Clinic in Philadelphia. In 1995, Mr. Gallagher was jogging in Read More...
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PA Residency in Critical Care
June 9, 2008 2:40 PM by Stephen Cornell
Just spotted a post about this at the PA Forum . Johns Hopkins has created a postgraduate residency in critical care for PAs . The Johns Hopkins Hospital Department of Anesthesiology/Critical Care Medicine Postgraduate Critical Care Residency is a 12-month Read More...
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American Medical News: How to Hire an NP
June 9, 2008 12:32 PM by Stephen Cornell
Today's American Medical News also has advice for physicians about employment contracts for NPs. When a nurse practitioner is hired, the terms of the relationship should be clearly defined in an agreement and should not be based merely on a handshake. Read More...
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AMA on Doctor of Nursing Practice
June 9, 2008 11:33 AM by Stephen Cornell
The top story on the American Medical News Web site is about the doctor of nursing practice degree and the National Board of Medical Examiners' DNP test and certification. Starting this fall, doctor of nursing practice graduates will be able to take a Read More...
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Encouraging Debate
June 7, 2008 6:47 PM by Stephen Cornell
At the American Physical Therapy Association's annual conference, they schedule public debates about the profession's important issues. Perhaps the most interesting-and most innovative-aspects of this year's conference are the two scheduled debates on Read More...
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Will the Last Provider to Leave Primary Care Please Turn Out the Lights?
June 6, 2008 3:12 PM by Stephen Cornell
Wall Street Journal physician columnist Benjamin Brewer bemoans the " impending collapse of primary care." We've now trained a complete generation of doctors that cares more about lifestyle than anything else. Medical students are choosing the ROAD to Read More...
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Office Distractions
June 6, 2008 12:44 PM by Stephen Cornell
WebMD PA blogger Rod Moser seems a little grumpy today. Link Read More...
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PA Students to Reach Out to NP Students?
June 5, 2008 5:07 PM by Stephen Cornell
Just noticed this interesting Student Academy of the AAPA resolution from San Antonio. Resolution 2008-02 The Student Academy resolves to explore the possibility of the Student Academy developing relationships with student nurse practitioners groups. Read More...
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DeSales Wins Third SAAAPA Challenge Bowl Crown
June 4, 2008 7:42 PM by Stephen Cornell
DeSales University won the 2008 SAAAPA National Medical Challenge Bowl in San Antonio last week. Students from DeSales have now won three national PA student challenge bowl titles since 2002. Members of the winning squad were Ray Rivera, Shawn Reynolds Read More...
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HealthPort's Audie Horn is a Distinguished Fellow
June 4, 2008 6:33 PM by Stephen Cornell
PA Audie Horn has earned Distinguished Fellow of the AAPA status. Horn is the director of clinical sales support for HealthPort. As HealthPort’s Director of Clinical Sales Support, Audie Horn acts as a resident electronic medical record (EMR) expert, Read More...
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PA Students Oppose Entry-Level PA Doctorates
June 3, 2008 2:42 PM by Stephen Cornell
The Student Academy of the AAPA Assembly of Representatives did debate PA doctorate degrees in San Antonio and came out against entry-level PA doctorates. From the May 27 AAPA News Conference Daily (under the bland headline "AOR Approves 24 Resolutions"): Read More...
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Is It Time to Rethink the AAPA HOD?
June 3, 2008 2:10 PM by Stephen Cornell
I am a devoted fan of the AAPA House of Delegates and have attended the HOD at 12 consecutive AAPA conferences. The last few years, I’ve attended the HOD from beginning to end (although I admit to skipping out on the last few standing ovations for departing Read More...
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From Romania to PA
June 3, 2008 2:03 PM by Stephen Cornell
The Sacramento Bee recently published an outstanding profile of California PA Viorica Bantea , who fled Romania with her six children in 1989 and graduated from PA school in 1997. Today, in a remarkable case of belief, resolve, perseverance, Viorica Bantea Read More...
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Emory PA Interviewed on CNN
June 2, 2008 3:34 PM by Stephen Cornell
CNN recently interviewed Emory University PA Allan Platt about massage therapy. "It increases blood flow to muscles, and that increases healing and speeds healing time," said professor Allan Platt, who teaches physician assistants at Emory University's Read More...
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NCCPA Removes DOD from BOD
June 2, 2008 2:43 PM by Stephen Cornell
The Department of Defense will no longer have a representative on the NCCPA board of directors . After nearly 18 months, it was with significant reluctance that the NCCPA Board of Directors acknowledged the Department of Defense's position that they could Read More...
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Back from San Antonio
June 2, 2008 12:08 PM by Stephen Cornell
The ADVANCE Blog for PAs is officially back from the AAPA conference in San Antonio . The conference was outstanding, as always. There's no substitute for having thousands of PAs together in one place. An estimated 6,200 PAs and PA students attended the Read More...
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