End-of-life Care

Surrogate decision makers: What if a  surrogate cannot decide?

Jim Anderson, PA-C, ATC February 29, 2012

When a surrogate feels ill-equipped to make medical decisions, the first step for clinicians is to be aware of the laws that govern surrogacy.

Moving beyond critique

Noel J. Genova, MA, PA-C May 12, 2011

Coming out of church a few weeks ago, I received a call from my daughter, a freshman nursing student in Boston. She'd had a tough week.

Breaking bad news: Communication skills for difficult conversations

Lisa Davenport, PA-C, MSHS, Georgeanne Schopp, LMFT, MS February 01, 2011

PAs can develop skills needed to deliver bad news and promote consensus among patients, families, and the health care team.

Hospice and palliative care:  The time to get involved is now

Kathy Kemie, PA-C, MS January 07, 2011

How ironic, says the author, that the physician assistant profession, so devoted to the team approach to care, is denied the ability to be part of the hospice team.

Stop the beta-blocker. Add morphine.

Dawn Colomb-Lippa, MHS, PA-C November 22, 2010

First, let me say that this blog entry comes more from the standpoint of a granddaughter than a PA because, frankly, as an orthopedic PA, I am not generally in the business of dealing with patients at the ends of their lives, AND I have just lost my vibrant grandmother to cancer.

Is it ethical to provide enteral tube feedings for patients with dementia?

Zachary Hartsell, MPAS, PA-C, Jennifer S. Williams, MMS, PA-C October 01, 2010

Research does not offer any clear support for or against this practice, making this a difficult decision for both the patient's family and the clinician.

House calls, homebodies: Remembering that you came

Brian T. Maurer, PA-C June 16, 2010

The comfort of a clinician's home visit is immeasurable to patients who wish to live their last days in their own home.

Charlotte's Web: Lessons learned from a pig and a spider

Sarah Zarbock, PA-C April 07, 2010

Skilled communication is especially critical during conversations with children and their families about life-threatening and terminal conditions. How can E.B. White's classic children tale make you a better communicator?

Why physician assistants should consider joining the hospital ethics committee

Jim Anderson, PA-C, ATC February 18, 2010

Service on an ethics committee allows PAs to learn how to apply bioethical principles, and it allows their colleagues to learn more about PAs.

A Day in the Life: Alexandra Godfrey, BSc, PT

Alexandra Godfrey, BSc, PT October 14, 2009

A day in both the anatomy lab and the hospital teaches this student how a constant awareness of illness, suffering, and loss will be part of being a PA.

QRS: Alzheimer's disease; Myasthenia gravis

Dawn Colomb-Lippa, MHS, PA-C, Amy M. Klingler, MS, PA-C, Margaret King-Schumacher, PA-C,MJ July 21, 2009

Features, signs and symptoms, and treatment of Alzheimer's disease and myasthenia gravis are reviewed. Questions and answers that highlight important facts about these diseases are also included.