Clinical Watch Articles

Health care: 
The quality 
chasm 10 years later

QCWG, the Quality Care Work Group at the AAPA March 09, 2012

We have made progress in some of the six areas identified for improvement by the Institute of Medicine in 2001, but we have fallen short in others.
 

HIV/AIDS: 
Improved
 outcomes, less disparity

January 11, 2012

The goal of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy for the United States is to rededicate attention to HIV/AIDS management in the areas of prevention, outcome improvement, and elimination of disparities.
 

Heart failure: 
An update on current care

November 09, 2011

Three goals of HF management are to delay onset of end-stage disease, avoid acute decompensated heart failure, and reduce the incidence of sudden cardiac death.
 

Childhood obesity: Screening and early 
intervention

September 13, 2011

The prevalence of childhood obesity is now approaching 20% among US children. Diet and exercise have been shown to be effective interventions.
 

Bystander CPR:
A shift from the ABCs to the CABs

From CSAC, the Clinical and Scientific Affairs Council of the AAPA July 20, 2011

Greater emphasis should be placed on having bystanders or health care providers deliver effective, quality chest compressions, as studies have indicated that this improves survival in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.
 

Oral health: Caring for 
primary 
care patients

From CSAC, the Clinical and Scientific Affairs Council of the AAPA May 12, 2011

By incorporating preventive oral health practices within their primary care practices, PAs have an opportunity to address health disparities and improve all aspects of their patients' health.
 

Quality improvement: 
Tobacco use, diabetes, and vaccines

May 10, 2011

The latest NCQA State of Health Care Quality report shows progress but also indicates room for improvement in three key areas.
 

Radiology: 
CT scans and radiation exposure

From CSAC, the Clinical and Scientific Affairs Committee of the AAPA March 11, 2011

No clear guidelines are currently available, so PAs must take care to order CT only when the benefit outweighs the risk and when less invasive alternatives will not provide adequate clinical information.
 

Genomics: 
Present-day 
practices and future trends

From CSAC, the Clinical and Scientific Affairs Council of the AAPA January 14, 2011

The area of pharmacogenetics—the use of genetic information to tailor pharmacotherapeutic decision-making for an individual—likely offers the greatest promise in improving health care within the next decade.
 

Concussion: 
Assessment of traumatic brain injuries

From CSAC, the Clinical and Scientific Affairs Committee of the AAPA November 16, 2010

Mild traumatic brain injury, or concussion, is a common injury seen in the urgent care setting. PAs should be able to evaluate the patient and determine the appropriate management.
 
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