March 2010 - Posts

PA-Founded Free Clinic Recognized
March 31, 2010 9:35 AM by Heather Simons

The Shalom Free Clinic in Chico, Calif., founded in part by Karen Kushner, PA-C, the ADVANCE and AFPPA 2009 Family Practice PA of the Year, received recognition today in the Orion , Chico State's student newspaper . While the new health care bill promises Read More...

0 comments »     

Rural PAs in Demand
March 30, 2010 11:29 AM by Heather Simons

In a recent article in the Wisconsin State Journal , physician assistants are recognized as an integral part of the solution to a shortage of primary care physicians, particularly in rural areas. Michelle Reisen-Garvey, a PA at Family Health of Lafayette Read More...

0 comments »     

PA Programs Around the Globe
March 29, 2010 10:53 AM by Terri Schaefer

PAs can now become a founding member of the International Academy of Physician Associate Educators (IAPAE), an organization that was formed to promote the education of PAs worldwide: IAPAE is driven by a determination to maximize the contribution of Physician Read More...

2 comments »     

Positive PA Mention in Men's Health
March 26, 2010 10:07 AM by Terri Schaefer

A recent article in Men's Health , "The Doctor Will See You Now," provided tips for patients to get an appointment to see their physician quickly. PAs were suggested as a solution under the heading "OK, so the doctor really can't see you now." While the Read More...

1 comments »     

PhD, FNP Support PAs in Team Approach
March 25, 2010 3:39 PM by Heather Simons

In a letter to the editor at the Indianapolis Star , Sharon Sims, PhD, and Marcia Plant Jackson, FNP, state their support for PAs and NPs as part of the team approach to health care: We struggle with educating enough physicians who are committed to primary Read More...

0 comments »     

AAPA Comments on MOC Modifications
March 24, 2010 11:48 AM by Terri Schaefer

The AAPA has sent a letter to Ragan Cohn of the NCCPA outlining its comments to the changes that NCCPA has proposed to the maintenance of certification process for all PAs–self-assessment activities, the clinical quality improvement project and extending Read More...

0 comments »     

PA is ‘Top Doc’
March 23, 2010 9:55 AM by Terri Schaefer

Elaine Yildiz, a PA at the North Chicago VA Medical Center, has been named “Top Doc.” The award, presented by the Silver Star Families of America and MilitaryConnection.com, recognizes excellence in military and veterans health care, according to the Read More...

0 comments »     

Frequent Users of the ED, Redefined
March 19, 2010 10:52 AM by Heather Simons

Frequent users of the emergency department are predominantly white, insured and at greater risk for hospitalization due to serious illness, despite public perceptions of them as abusers of the health care system with minor complaints and no health insurance, Read More...

0 comments »     

FP PA of the Year: Nominations Welcome
March 18, 2010 11:02 AM by Terri Schaefer

I’m excited to announce that we are now accepting nominations for our sixth annual Family Practice PA of the Year competition, which we at ADVANCE for Physician Assistants present with the Association of Family Practice Physician Assistants. Anyone can Read More...

0 comments »     

PA is No. 2
March 17, 2010 12:23 PM by Terri Schaefer

Click here for Focus.com’s interesting pyramid chart, “Best Jobs in America.” PA was named second best job, after systems engineer. In addition, NP was named fourth best job on the chart. Scroll to the bottom of the chart to learn how the site picked Read More...

4 comments »     

Recording Live from AFPPA 2010
March 16, 2010 11:16 AM by Heather Simons

Live from the AFPPA 2010 Spring CME Conference in Orlando, president-elect Wendy Macey, MPAS, PA-C, spoke with ADVANCE about the current demand for family practice PAs and the importance of AFPPA conferences. You can listen to the Webcast here . Check Read More...

0 comments »     

SPAP Update: Day 2
March 14, 2010 7:44 AM by Terri Schaefer

As the conference winds to a close today, I want to offer a recap of some more events that took place at the inaugural SPAP conference since I last posted. First of all, SPAP president-elect Ed Wilson told me that the silent auction at the welcome reception Read More...

0 comments »     

Early Success for SPAP
March 13, 2010 6:00 AM by Terri Schaefer

Yesterday was a very busy first day at the Society for PAs in Pediatrics conference . While this is the organization's fourth conference, it's the first conference independent of any other PA group (in the past, the SPAP conference was held with the AFPPA Read More...

1 comments »     

AFPPA Gets Soaked
March 11, 2010 6:35 PM by Heather Simons

Despite dreary, wet weather in Orlando, the 2010 AFPPA Spring CME Conference is off to an energetic start. At this morning's welcome ceremony and president's address, AFPPA president Bob Thoemke, PA-C, noted that nearly 400 attendees and representatives Read More...

0 comments »     

ADVANCE Arrives in Orlando
March 10, 2010 9:54 PM by Heather Simons

ADVANCE for Physician Assistants has arrived at the 2010 AFPPA Spring CME Conference in Walt Disney World. Earlier this evening, I stepped off the Magical Express and into the Coronado Springs Resort, where the palm trees are lush and the water is close Read More...

0 comments »     

Stronger Primary Care Requires More PAs, NPs
March 9, 2010 10:05 AM by Heather Simons

Recommendations from a group of health care leaders convened by the Macy Foundation suggest that new ways of organizing and expanding the roles of primary care physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants will strengthen primary care in the Read More...

0 comments »     

NPR Plugs PAs
March 8, 2010 12:41 PM by Heather Simons

A recent entry in NPR's health blog Shots turns its attention to the growing presence of PAs in current health care reform discussions, focusing specifically on AAPA president Stephen Hanson's appearance at the bipartisan health summit. As ADVANCE reported Read More...

0 comments »     

Does Newsweek Article Get PA Role Wrong?
March 5, 2010 10:20 AM by Terri Schaefer

For the second time in as many weeks, PAs are not presented in a positive way in a major magazine. Last week, it was SmartMoney . This week, it’s Newsweek . The recent issue includes an article called “The Doctor Won’t See You Now,” which focuses on the Read More...

4 comments »     

AAPA President Goes to the White House
March 4, 2010 12:44 PM by Heather Simons

On Wednesday, AAPA president Stephen Hanson stood in the East Room of the White House just behind President Obama as he pledged to push through national health care reform, despite Republican opposition. According to a report in the Bakersfield local Read More...

2 comments »     

Wake Forest MMS-PhD Program Update
March 3, 2010 12:57 PM by Terri Schaefer

We reported in October that the new MMS-PhD program at Wake Forest University PA program in Winston-Salem, N.C., had been approved by the board of trustees. The program combines the PA program’s master of medical science degree with a PhD in clinical Read More...

0 comments »     

Smoking, Cholesterol are Problems for Obama
March 1, 2010 1:46 PM by Heather Simons

The results of President Obama's first physical of 2010 show that, while he's "fit for duty," he hasn't quit smoking. According to Shots, NPR's Health Blog , Obama is still trying to quit smoking and occasionally uses nicotine gum, when he needs it. The Read More...

1 comments »