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Check out the Summer 2010 newsletter from the NHSPA.
In this issue:
Annual Fall Conference – Don't forget to mark your calendar!
PA/MD of the Year Award
Haunted Pub Tour
Silent Auction for David's House at CHaD
Gesundheit! - Allergic rhinitis
Physician Assistant Job Shadowing – Can your facility make a difference?
The Many Activities of The Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Legislative Update
Physician Associate: A Change Whose Time Has Come Final Statement of 100 PA Leader
SUMMER NEWSLETTER
Annual Fall Conference – Don't forget to mark your calendar!
This year's conference will be held in Portsmouth, NH on October 22nd and 23rd, 2010. It promises to be fun, interesting and highly educational. We hope you have submitted your nominations for PA/MD of the year, and also considered participating in our annual Silent Auction and this year's Haunted Pub Tour. Register online now to take advantage of early bird pricing!
PA/MD of the Year Award
Nominations are now being accepted for PA/MD of the Year. The award acknowledges the Physician Assistant and Physician who have shown exceptional dedication, bringing their practice to a higher level in promoting the PA/MD team model of care. Cast your vote online by sending a detailed email to:
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. The deadline for casting your vote is September 15, 2010.
HAUNTED PUB TOUR
Join us on Friday night after the reception for a frightful and fun evening of activities on our private haunted pub tour. This 3-hour tour includes a wine stops at local establishments, a private wine tasting and culminates in three-course dinner at the Blue Mermaid Restaurant. Pre-registration is required for the Haunted Pub Tour and Tickets can be purchased for $35.00 (all inclusive.) The deadline for Haunted Pub Tour reservations is 09/24/10. To sign-up for the tour you may indicate your participation on the conference registration form or contact MaryAnn @
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(Conference registrations are being mailed to members in August 2010)
SILENT AUCTION David's House @ CHaD
Students from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences –Manchester and Franklin Pierce University are volunteering their time to host a silent auction at the annual fall conference. 100% of auctions proceeds are donated to David's House, in Lebanon, NH. David's House provides free housing for families of children undergoing treatment at Children's Hospital at Dartmouth (CHaD).
This year the auction items include a brief, indoor sky diving lesson and handmade pottery & quilts. We are hoping to exceed the $3500.00 raised last year, so get ready to bid! For your convenience, this year David's House has made it possible to donate on-line. If this is more convenient for you, the address for online donations is www.davids-house.org
Gesundheit!
Allergic rhinitis is an extremely common condition that patients frequently present with, regardless of the type of practice you are in. The symptoms typically include sneezing, itchy, watery eyes, rhinorrhea, post nasal drip, and nasal congestion, to name a few. People tend to develop allergic rhinitis before the age of 20, but this does not mean that it can't present later in life as well. It is important to obtain a good history to determine when the symptoms began, how frequently they occur, and what seems to make them better or worse. The timeline can often give you a clue as to what the possible source of the allergy is, whether it is mold, animals, ragweed, tree pollen, or many other environmental allergens.
Case Study:
A 30 year old female presents to the office with complaints of chronic post nasal drip, nasal congestion, sneezing, and a feeling of pressure in her ears. The symptoms are usually present during the spring and fall and she has noticed them for several years, although this year they seem to be a bit worse. She has tried taking OTC antihistamines which improve her symptoms, but they make her very tired and it's difficult to function at work that way. She notices that her symptoms are worst in the morning, just after waking up. The post nasal drip and congestion cause her to feel as though she can't breathe very well. As the day progresses, her symptoms tend to improve a bit. She denies any other medical conditions and she has no known drug allergies.
Exam:
On exam, her conjunctiva are injected with thin, watery discharge from the eyes, nasal mucosa are pale with bilateral inferior turbinate hypertrophy, and cobblestoning is present on the posterior pharynx.
DDx:
Allergic rhinitis; Non-allergic/vasomotor rhinitis; Eustachian tube dysfunction; Acute/Chronic sinusitis ; Nasal polyps; Rhinitis Medicamentosa
Plan:
Start an intranasal steroid spray daily for approximately one month before re-evaluating symptoms again, unless new or changing symptoms occur.
Intranasal steroid sprays are commonly used to treat and manage allergic rhinitis. They have the benefit of using a steroid without the systemic effects. It is important to emphasize to patients that the steroid spray needs to be used daily in order to receive any benefit from it. They cannot be used on an as-needed basis to treat allergic rhinitis, because a cumulative effect of the steroid is required to be successful. Typically, if the steroid spray is not enough, oral antihistamines or nasal antihistamine sprays can be added to the treatment plan. Other treatment options include a referral to an allergist for further testing or removal of the known allergens from the patient's environment, if possible. Unfortunately, allergic rhinitis is not something that will be cured, but often, the symptoms can be managed quite well.
Sarah A. Bean PA-C, Current NHSPA Secretary
ENT Specialists of Southern New Hampshire
Physician Assistant Job Shadowing – Can your facility make a difference?
Every year the NHSPA receives several requests from potential students seeking job shadowing opportunities in the state. Shadowing recommendations can vary amongst schools and it can be a challenge for students to identify organizations that are willing to participate. Currently, Franklin Pierce University recommends more than 24 hours, in three different specialties. Mass College of Pharmacology and Health Sciences does not require, but prefers 50 hours of shadowing with one or more PA's and the University of New England recommends shadowing in several different practices.
Although shadowing is not a requirement for many schools, it is an invaluable experience for potential students. Job shadowing experiences can also be listed on the CASPA (Central Application Service for Physician Assistant's) application, providing students with a clear advantage when being considered for enrollment.
NHSPA would like to assist potential students in their search, by compiling a list of organizations that are available and willing to provide shadowing opportunities. If your organization is willing to assist, please contact the NHSPA administrative assistant @
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The Many Activities of The Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences-Manchester Class of 2010 Physician Assistants that Promote Friendship and Community Involvement
The Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Physician Assistant class of 2010 was part of many activities in their first year of school.
If they weren't studying they were keeping themselves busy in the community or with school events.
To initiate bonding and meeting others from other programs at the school, one of the first events that the class hosted was a social at Margaritas. Not only did the PA class attend but students from the pharmacy program and nursing program were there as well. It was a chance to meet new people and have a great time.
To make a presence in the community some members of the class decided to raise money and take part in the Walk for Hunger in Manchester, NH. They joined together as a team and had great success in the end.
They also worked very hard to collect food to contribute to the makings of Thanksgiving baskets for families in need in the Manchester area.
At Christmas time some of the students contributed small gifts to be donated to those who are unable to afford something special for their children.
One of the biggest events that the class was responsible for was the silent and live auctions at the New Hampshire Society of Physician Assistant's annual conference. David's House in Lebanon, NH would be the organization from which the auction proceeds would go to. The auction required great teamwork and diligence in all those who were involved. It required finding the classmates who had connections and then following through with the connections that they had. Students went to most of the businesses in the local area as well as the major sports teams in New England and asked for any donation that they could make. They asked family members, friends and past employers for donations as well. It was a long process but very rewarding in the end. The goal was to raise more than the class before us and we succeeded.
To bring more diverse events to the college community we planned a trip to Foxwoods Casino. There, we attended the showing of Bodies Revealed, a plastination showcase. It was a way to get firsthand views of the human body inside and out. We were able to see various anomalies that are not seen in everyday practice as well as those that are. Those who attended had a lot of fun and friendships were made even stronger.
In their second year at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences some students were able to attend the American Academy of Physician Assistant's annual conference in Atlanta, Georgia. Many of the students that attended the conference raised money for the PA Foundation and participated in the Annual 5k Fun Walk/Run. It was very rewarding for those who participated and The Manchester/Worcester campuses ended up receiving an award for their contributions to the foundation.
These are not all of the activities that we took part in or hosted but it is a list of those that show the importance of creating the lifelong friendships and connections to the local community. It is important to form strong bonds with those around you and work together to help each other succeed. It is also important to represent the profession of Physician Assistants in the community. The more we partake in various events the more people will learn our role and respect our profession.
Melissa Gallant, MCPHS-Student Representative
Legislative Update
Susan Finerty, Chief Delegate
Okay so it takes quite a while to move things along legislatively. I have been working with AAPA in my prior role on the Government Affairs and Reimbursement Committee from 2004-2008 as well as being a current representative for NH PAs and nationally we are still working on the same issues…including PAs in language that allows us to treat federal employees, allowing PAs to order hospice care and skilled nursing care, and lobbying for funding for monies for PA education.
So what is happening on the state level? I have sent letters and had some discussions with the BOM, NH Medical Society, NH Chapter of the American College of Physicians, NH Association of Family Practice Physicians, Dartmouth Hitchcock and the Bi-State Primary Care Associates organization.
I have asked for support for legislative initiatives that include changing wording in NH law that will allow for NH PAs to sign for handicap placards and death certificates. I have also asked for support to change the ratio of the number of PAs that both a supervising or alternate supervising physician may supervise. The third initiative I have asked for support on is to change the requirement that states a PA must have employment and a designated supervising and alternate supervising physician prior to obtaining licensure in NH.
To date, I have not had opposition on these issues. In fact, the BOM is proposing new language that will increase the number of PAs supervised from 2 to 4 and an alternate supervising physician from 6 to 8. I would still like to see more open language that allows the actual number to be determined at the practice level as AAPA suggests. So far there has not been proposed language to change the procedure for obtaining licensure in NH.
As I continue to work with our physician colleagues, I will ask for your support by discussing these issues with your supervising physicians. These changes will require our presence at hearings and the more PAs and supervising MDs there the better! I vow to continue to work on these issues and ask for your support in numbers as we move forward. I will keep all of you posted as we move along in these goals.
Physician Associate: A Change Whose Time Has Come Final Statement of 100 PA Leaders
We, the undersigned physician assistant leaders assert that the time to change the name of our profession has arrived. While we can debate much about a name change, we have all agreed to the below statements and thoughts. We also fully agree that the name change advocated below will advance the profession. We call on the leaders of the profession and all PAs to announce and start to implement this change as soon as possible. At a minimum poll the entire profession. We are leaders who believe it is increasingly unwise to wait longer to make this long-needed change. Collectively, the below-signed PAs have given much of their lives to the profession and are dedicated to its advancement.
Why We Need a Change
Our profession's original name was physician associate. Physicians demanded that "associate" be changed on the grounds that it did not properly describe the desired scope of PA practice. Forty years later we have outgrown the "assistant" title. It no longer accurately represents the profession. It is inaccurate and confuses consumers. The title is misleading and carries negative connotations which we can and should avoid. As we move into a new model of healthcare delivery it is of the utmost importance that our profession's name accurately describes our role.
Why a Change Is Justified
The PA role is truly one of partnership; of association and collegiality. We work as associates and have for many years. Our profession's birth-name in 1965 was physician associate. "Physicians assistant" is a generic term. It can mean anything: a person in the office that bills patients, a records assistant, the person that sets up and cleans the exam room, all the way to a certified, licensed PA. The profession must move from this generic name to one that aptly and more accurately describes our function. In our society, "assistant" denotes a technical job, not a profession. PAs are held to the same legal and medical standards as physicians. The title is confusing and misleading to our patients and the public in general. Since the name practically guarantees that "physician assistants" will be confused with "medical assistants", patients are at risk of thinking they are receiving substandard care or expect that after the "assistant" a physician will also be seeing them. Most times this does not happen, nor does the physician or the PA expect it to happen. It is time to have the name mirror the reality that exists. The internationalization of PAs is important to the profession. Having to explain that the common meaning of the name "assistant" under-represents our true practice is a barrier, in international forums, to full understanding.
The above problems also may keep prospective applicants and others away from becoming PAs as they would not want to go through extensive schooling only to become someone's assistant. Almost all professions at the level of training of a PA (pharmacy, PT, OT, NP) are or soon will be at the doctorate level. Our education and practice is professional, as should be our title. "Assistant" obscures the PA's true role in the practice. Physicians who might otherwise consider a PA do not hire one as they feel they need someone more than just another "assistant". All professions should be able to name their profession. "Physician Assistant" both demeans and misrepresents our profession. It is time to claim the name that is both appropriate and our birthright and discard the one that was forced upon us.
The Process
The profession, ideally through the AAPA Board or HOD, should immediately adopt a policy that states that "Hereafter the profession will work to be retitled "Physician Associate," as it more accurately reflects the profession in the 21st century". If the Board or House is reluctant to do this on their own, then the entire profession should be polled using the AAPA's full database . This renaming can be done over a number of years, with the ability reserved to use either title in the interim if necessary, depending on state legislation, etc. The PA profession should advise organized medicine that this change is not an effort for independent practice but is a move to more accurately describe the scope and status of the profession and place it at a level where it belongs. It should also be explained that the name physician associate had been chosen for us by organized medicine to represent the PA profession 45 years ago. PAs should stress that after 45 years of delivering quality medical care across the entire spectrum of practice, we are choosing a more appropriate name and that we would expect nothing less than the full support of organized medicine, which will also benefit from the change. PA programs should include the name physician associate whenever possible, along with the title physician assistant if need be. "Physician Associate" allows us continued use of the initials "PA", which are well-known to the public. "Associate" does not imply that PAs are equal to physicians. Associate professors are not full professors. Associate deans are not full deans. There are precedents for this. The profession should consider funding State-level efforts to effect this change. The argument that a change will open laws at the State level is a hollow one. This action can be introduced as a "cosmetic" name change amendment which will have no impact on PA practice law. If opposed, the profession can educate the legislature as to the source of the opposition, that we are asking for no increased privileges, and the current title is confusing consumers and others This name change should be done BEFORE the profession embarks upon any large public relations campaign. We can effectively brand the profession through the use of the new name, avoiding any confusion of our status when compared with medical, podiatry, chiropractic and other assistants. Therefore, we the undersigned PAs declare that because of the above reasons and more, the PA profession should adopt the name "Physician Associate" and begin an educational campaign to other medical professionals and the public regarding Physician Associates.
Robert M. Blumm, MA, PA-C, DFAAPA , Immediate past president APSPA, Past president AASPA, Immediate past president ACC, Past president NYSSPA, Past AAPA Liaison To ACS, ACC Liaison to ACS, Past Chair Surgical Congress AAPA, Editorial Board Advance for PAs, Clinician 1, Advanced Practice Jobs, past editorial board member Physician Assistant, Clinician News, Author, National Conference Speaker, Consultant, Paragon Award Winner Physician /PA Team, John Kirklin M.D.
Dave Mittman, PA . Past AAPA Director, Past President NY State Society of PAs, Co-Founder and creator Clinician Reviews Journal and Clinician 1. Co-Founder ACC. First PA in the USAF Reserves. Lifetime PA Achievement Award/President's Award NJSSPA and NYSSPA. Co-Author of first international article regarding PA practice in America published in the BMJ. AAPA National Public Education Award Winner-1983 |
