ADVANCE Blog for PAs : Physician Assistants

PA Named in Top Eight Most-Stressful Jobs

Heather Simons — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:00:00 GMT

According to a list compiled by CareerCast.com , physician assistant ranks in the top eight most-stressful jobs in the country, along with newspaper reporter, general practice physician, real estate agent, advertising account executive, photojournalist,...(read more)

"No Such Thing as Too Many PAs"

Heather Simons — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:52:00 GMT

AAPA president Stephen Hanson has published an opinion piece, " 'Make more of them' isn't the only solution to America's physician shortage ," in The Bakersfield Californian endorsing PAs as an integral part of the solution to a growing physician shortage....(read more)

Fixing the Problem with Primary Care

Heather Simons — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:05:00 GMT

A recent article in The New York Times discusses how " Primary Care's Image Problem " is leading the vast majority of med students into specialties over primary care and how the patient-centered medical home model could alter the course of this alarming...(read more)

An AFPPA Success

Terri Schaefer — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:57:00 GMT

I'm back in Pennsylvania after two days at the AFPPA Fall CME Conference and Exhibition at the Arizona Grand Resort in Phoenix. Upon my arrival at the conference, I was excited to hear the organization had broken all previous attendance records, with...(read more)

ATSU-ASHS Alumnus Appointed to ARBoPA Board by Ariz. Gov.

Heather Simons — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:07:00 GMT

A.T. Still University Arizona School of Health Sciences (ATSU-ASHS) alumnus Geoffrey Hoffa, PA-C, was recently named to the Arizona Regulatory Board of Physician Assistants (ARBoPA) by Arizona Governor Jan Brewer. He will replace Randy Danielsen, PhD,...(read more)

Florida PA and Nurse Create Educational Tool

Heather Simons — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:42:00 GMT

Since early 2009, Slava Makler, PA-C, BS, and Nadia Fakira, RN, BA, MA, have dedicated their time to improving patient care on the neurosurgical floor where they work at Florida Hospital in Orlando. With the goal of inspiring passion and reigniting a...(read more)

Wake Forest University’s MMS-PhD Program Approved

Terri Schaefer — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:43:00 GMT

Ralph W. Rice, MPAS, PA-C, associate professor and associate director of the Wake Forest University PA program in Winston-Salem, N.C., recently told ADVANCE that the university's board of trustees has approved its proposed MMS-PhD program. The program,...(read more)

In TIME, Surgeon Slights PAs

Heather Simons — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:28:00 GMT

In an article posted today, orthopedic surgeon and TIME Magazine writer Scott Haig discusses the nation's shortage of surgical assistants--and slights PAs as overly expensive and potentially inadequate "alternatives" to a surgical resident or fellow....(read more)

Prison Hires a PA, Saves Money

Heather Simons — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:02:00 GMT

"The cost of medical care for inmates in Westmoreland County Prison is going up." But only in the short term, and to the benefit of PAs. The Pennsylvania prison has made a one-year deal with Naphcare, Inc., the facility's Alabama-based, longtime health...(read more)

PA Billboards in Georgia

Terri Schaefer — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 18:29:00 GMT

The Georgia Association of Physician Assistants is extending PA week to last the entire month of October. To that end, GAPA has recently placed billboards in the state to raise awareness of the personal attention patients receive from Georgia’s PAs. In...(read more)

News Article Praises PAs

Heather Simons — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 16:01:00 GMT

An article in today's Times Leader , a newspaper serving northeast Pennsylvania, focuses entirely on physician assistants. In honor of PA Week , which starts today, "The PA is in" tells the story of Justine Samanas, a PA at Mercy Special Care Hospital...(read more)

From Patient to PA: The Importance of Organ Donation

Heather Simons — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 17:15:00 GMT

Sixteen years ago, Jim Ginter, president of the Wisconsin Academy of Physician Assistants and an ADVANCE author and peer reviewer, received a new kidney and discovered a new path in life. In an article in the Sheboygan Press , Ginter discusses the hereditary...(read more)

Cardiovascular Health Webcast to Feature PA Input

Terri Schaefer — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 15:33:00 GMT

Greg P. Thomas, PA, MPH, AAPA senior vice president for education, membership and resource development, will take part in “ Time to Talk CARDIO: Creating A Real Dialogue In the Office ,” a Webcast that takes place tomorrow morning at 8 a.m. EST. He will...(read more)

New Health Care Reform Bill Recognizes PAs

Heather Simons — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 13:22:00 GMT

In a move that gets the ball rolling for health care reform, Montana Sen. Max Baucus has released America’s Healthy Future Act of 2009. While the bill is not yet complete, it contains several provisions in favor of physician assistants: The bill treats...(read more)

Pharmacist: PAs Are 'Barefoot Doctors' With Minimum Training

Terri Schaefer — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:24:00 GMT

California pharmacist Barbara Morris has made her thoughts about physician assistants known in a news release about the ramifications of a primary care physician shortage under a new health care plan. She insinuates that PAs have minimal training, and...(read more)