What's Happening


Hospital Based PAs Matrix Released
May 06, 2013
by Susan DeSantis, PA-C

 

HAP’s Advanced Practice Professionals Advisory Group has develped a guidebook entitled “Use of Physician Assistants, Certified Registered Nurse Practitioners, Certified Nurse Midwives, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists, and Clinical Nurse Specialists in the Hospital Setting in Pennsylvania.” We are confident that this resource tool will provide guidance in understanding allowable practices in the hospital setting. Please distribute to your supervising physicians, PA co-workers and hospital administration.
State Board of Medicine News Release
Apr 17, 2013
by Mark DeSantis, PA-C

 

State Board of Medicine
Special Notice
April 15, 2013
Board Approves Temporary Authorization for Physician Assistants to Practice Pending Board Approval of the “Application for Registration as a Supervising Physician”
At its meeting on March 21, 2013, the State Board of Medicine approved a temporary authorization for Physician Assistants to practice pending formal approval of the “Application for Registration as a Supervising Physician.”
Upon submission of the application, Board staff will review the application ONLY for completeness and issue a letter to the supervising physician providing the temporary authorization for the physician assistant to begin practice.
If the application is not “complete” (i.e., required signatures are not provided, information is missing, fee is not included, etc.), a temporary authorization for the physician assistant to begin practicing WILL NOT be issued.
The temporary authorization, when issued, will provide a period of 120 days during which the physician assistant may practice, under the terms of set forth in the written agreement as submitted to the Board. Within 120 days, the Board will notify the supervising physician of the final approval or disapproval of the application. If approved, a final approval of the written agreement will be issued to the Supervising Physician. If there are discrepancies that have not been corrected within the 120 day period, the temporary authorization to practice will expire.
 
Board Approves Reduction in Paperwork and Reporting Requirements
for Substitute Supervising Physicians of the Physician Assistants
The Board also approved a reduction in paperwork and reporting requirements for substitute supervising physicians. Effective immediately, the “Written Agreement Change Form” for Adding/Deleting a Substitute Supervisor will no longer be required to be filed with the Board office.
However, the “Written Agreement Change Form” is required and must be submitted to:
                Delete a Physician Assistant;
                Dissolve a Written Agreement;
                Make Changes in Protocol, including: changing the job duties of the Physician Assistant;
                Changing the Physician Assistant’s prescribing or dispensing privileges;
                Changing the practice address (only if changing a hospital practice location)
 
Additional Amendments to Requirements for the
Supervision of Physician Assistants
The Board will issue a Statement of Policy to make additional amendments to the “Application for Registration as a Supervising Physician” which will reduce the paperwork and reporting requirements. When the Statement of Policy has been published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin, additional amendments will be made to the application form(s).
 
Link to special notice on State Board of Medicine website:
 
 
 
Link to new forms:
 
 
 
 
Elections Now Open
Feb 01, 2013
by PSPA

 PSPA Elections are fast approaching!  We are in need of PAs and students to run for office- each position is for a 2 year term except the student position is for 1 year. Remember, that you don't need to run for a position to volunteer- you can simply sign up for a committee today!
Positions available:
- Treasurer
- Secretary
- 2 Directors-at-Large
- 2 Student Directors-at-Large
- 4 Representatives to the AAPA House of Delegates   (What is the HOD?)

Please send letter of intent, resume, 350 word platform statement, and headshot picture to Chad Jackson

Student deadline is March 15, 2013 & Fellow deadline is April 15, 2013

Conference Wrap Up
Oct 25, 2012
by PSPA

Hopefully you were among the over 400 PAs and 119 students who attended the 37th Annual PSPA CME Conference at the Valley Forge Casino and Resort.  The Clinic of Phoenixville was the recipient of $7,681 and two van-loads of goods donated from across the state.  Lock Haven and DeSales were the two schools who raised the most money and goods respectively for this year’s host city charity.  You can still donate if you wish!

 

Please help us congratulate this year’s award winners:

PA Educator of the Year 2012: Tracy Wright

Humanitarians of the Year 2012: Brett and Corinne Feldman

Nate Alston Student Scholarship Awards: Alyssa Gundrum (Philadelphia), Brendan Greenaway (Lock Haven) and Sylvie Fadrhonc (Lock Haven). 

Health Disparity award winner - Eric Paulson, PA-S DeSales University

 

The Challenge Bowl was another exciting time, with Seton Hill University taking home the Spirit Award.  First place went to DeSales University, second place to St. Francis University, and third place to Seton Hill University.  And last, but certainly not least, the PAC Silent Auction brought in $11,045.  You can still help us get our voices heard by donating to the PAC today!

 

Save the Date: 38th Annual PSPA Conference Oct 16-19 in Erie, PA!

 

50% Off for Students
Sep 03, 2012
by Membership Committee

Students who are graduating this year should receive a 50% off coupon from their program good towards their first year of Fellow PSPA Membership dues. Please check  with your program for your own coupon and renew your membership in the PSPA. Remember only members have access to the Career Center, regional meetings,  discounted conference rate and all the member benefits to help you succeed at your new job.

If you have any questions, please contact us pspa@pspa.net.

STUDENTS Last Chance!
Jul 28, 2012
by Membership Committee

Your last chance to win $2,000 is fast approaching!  The deadline for the Nate Alston scholarship is July 30th.  Find more information here.  And while you're at it, nominate a PA you know for one of the Fellow Awards.

You can also compete against the other PA programs in the state in donations to the Host City Charity. And go toe to toe at the Student Challenge Bowl- team submissions are due by September 10th. 

Psychiatry PA Conference
Jun 23, 2012
by Deanna Najera, PA-C

The PSPA strives to assist PAs and students in all areas of practice improve their skills.  To that end, we are happy to promote the First Annual Comprehensive Review of Psychiatry.  This program is an engaging, intensive CME course focusing on behavioral health and psychiatric disorders. It will include an in-depth review of treatment and management considerations for PAs whose practice requires an understanding of frequently seen mental health/behavior management conditions. Specifically, this CME event will appeal to family medicine PAs who are in need of a broader understanding of the practice of psychiatry.

Experienced PAs in psychiatry will be updated with the latest practice paradigms and learn new treatment approaches and strategies for the treatment and management of patients with mental illness.
   There will also be the opportunity to attend a workshop on Practical Interpersonal Psychotherapy. This workshop is designed to introduce participants to the theory and practice of Interpersonal Counseling (IPC), an abbreviated form of Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT). IPT is an empirically tested brief psychotherapy. IPC has demonstrated effectiveness in primary care settings and was developed for professionals who have not had formal psychotherapy training. Register Today!

 

Special Administration of the Psychiatry Specialty Exam Announced: DATE CHANGE!


The date of the pilot administration of the Psychiatry Certificate of Added Qualifications (CAQ) Exam announced last month has been changed to Sunday, October 21.

The October administration was added as part of a pilot project to assess the efficacy of conducting CAQ exams in conjunction with large gatherings of specialty PAs. This pilot administration will follow a three-day psychiatry CME course conducted in Atlanta by the Association of Physician Associates in Psychiatry. NCCPA is not involved with the development, planning, content, or administration of the course.

If this pilot administration is successful, NCCPA may offer similar stand-alone exam administrations in conjunction with other events in 2013.

The October 21 exam will be offered only at an Atlanta-area Pearson VUE center. The Psychiatry Exam will be offered nationwide on September 10.

Online registration for the October administration of the Psychiatry Exam will open July 1 and close October 12. Registration is open now for all September CAQ exams.

To read more about the Psychiatry Exam, including additional details for those considering the October administration, go to http://www.nccpa.net/Psychiatry.aspx.

Clinical Case Challenge
Jun 18, 2012
by PSPA Membership

We would like to introduce a new member benefit- the Clinical Case Challenge!  Every quarter, a clinical case will be presented. If you think you know the diagnosis, you simply email Membership@pspa.net.  Every individual who gets it right will be entered in to a raffle for $25 of Keystone Cash!  The next issue of PSPA News will feature the answer, the winner and the next Challenge.  You can also win big by submitting your own Clinical Case Challenge. If your case is chosen you can also win $25 of Keystone Cash.

CASE #1: A 36yo Black Male presents with a chief complaint of sore throat. He reports a sore throat for the past 4 days and low grade fever. Denies nasal symptoms, cough, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.  He is not a smoker, and no chronic health concerns, though it’s been about 2 years since his last physical.  He reports dizziness as well.  On further questioning, he reports intermittent dizziness and “balance problems” for the past 6 months.  He reports an occasional “falling” sensation, though he can recall no inciting factors when these episodes occur. They are usually brief, but will occur several times over several days then abate for several weeks or months.  He has not discussed this with his PCP.

On exam, well developed, well-nourished male in no acute distress.  Vitals: BP 136/80, P 90, T 100.1F, R 16, Ht 70”, Wt 185lbs. Heart: regular rate and rhythm without murmurs, Lungs: clear to auscultation bilaterally without adventitious sounds.  HEENT: Normocephalic, ears clear/TMs intact, PERRLA, EOMI, Funduscopic exam- no papilledema, neck supple with some tender anterior cervical lymphadenopathy, mucous membranes moist, pharynx injected, tonsils 2+ erythematous and with exudate. Muscle strength 5/5 and symmetric in upper and lower extremities.  On neuro exam, patient is able to do finger-to-nose touching, rapid alternating movements and shin scratch tests symmetrically.  DTRs 2+ and symmetric.  There is no pronator drift; patient can change position without difficulty. However, he is unable to heel-toe walk or balance on either foot individually. When attempting Romberg test, he has problems keeping his balance after initially closing his eyes but then passes the remainder of the test.

CBC: WBC count- 11.5, H/H- 15.5/45, Platelet- 175, Seg- 85%, Lymph-10%, remainder of count unremarkable

BMP: All within normal limits

Rapid strep test Positive

Patient was treated with Amoxicillin 500mg TID x 10 days and referred for an MRI and to neurology for his dizziness and balance problems. What is the source of the dizziness and balance problems?  

Email your diagnosis to Membership@pspa.net  Remember you must be a member to win!

Attention Students!
Jun 14, 2012
by PSPA

Want to win some money? Important deadlines are fast approaching!  Consider submitting an essay, video or other project for the Thomas J. Lemley Health Disparities Competition.  The deadline is July 15th and you can win $1,500.  Just by submitting something you are eligible for a free year of PSPA membership!

You can win also $2,000 with the Nate Alston Student Scholarship- deadline July 30th. 

Also consider nominating one of your professors for the PA Educator of the Year award or a preceptor for one of the other Fellow PA Awards. 

Want to see your name in print? The AAPA is asking for student submissions to the premier of "First Rounds"- a section of the PA Professional magazine dedicated soley to students.  Don't forget- we welcome students on EVERY committee. It looks great on a resume and a sure fire way to land your first job!

 

House Bill 2465 Federal Workers Compensation Act
May 07, 2012
by Gerry Grega, PA-C

All PAs need to support House Bill 2465. See the AAPA Legislative Action Center for further details.