Public Health

Great expectations—or how to 
focus on prevention for all

March 06, 2012

Collaborating with public health departments and community programs is key to achieving behavioral change in our patients, even for the underserved.
 

Does my child need fluoride supplements?

January 26, 2012

Fluoride has proven benefits in the prevention of cavities, but children may be exposed to too much fluoride. Parents should know how to monitor exposure to prevent dental fluorosis.
 

Chikungunya virus: An emerging condition in the industrialized world

, Paul P. Rega, MD, FACEP; Christopher E. Bork, PhD, EMT-B, FASAHP January 23, 2012

Once found only in developing tropical nations, CHIKV has spread to the world at large. 
With proper management and close communication with authorities, it can be contained.
 

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.
 

The Unbearable Lightness of Being (an Accountable Care Organization)

October 28, 2011

HIT is supposed to be the vehicle upon which ACOs arrive at their zenith, which is a bit like saying that mom and dad have to count on a yet-unmade automobile to take the family on vacation next week.
 

PAs and the future of health care in the United States

October 05, 2011

The author urges PAs to join the Campaign for Action to help build a health care system where all Americans have access to high-quality, patient-centered care.
 

Building a foundation for understanding HIT

September 29, 2011

As a PA working in IT services it's easy lose sight of our mission, which it to help create a more sensible, safe, and just medical system.
 

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.
 

Addressing the widening gap

August 31, 2011

It's hard to imagine anyone coming up with that agency name, but the ONC is engaged in some pretty cool work.
 

Trimming the fat of the land

July 25, 2011

A recent JAMA commentary advocates the referral of morbidly obese children to state protective service agencies in cases where their families fail to achieve effective weight reduction. I suspect that such an approach would prove to be marginally effective at best and more than likely result in further treatment failures.
 

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.
 

Do you want fries or steroids with that?

July 11, 2011

The Tour de France is taking place this month. The cyclists are quite remarkable, but despite the natural abilities of the participants, this race always seems to center on the debate about performance enhancing drugs (PEDs).
 

Toxoplasmosis and malaria

May 18, 2011

This article reviews the general features, clinical assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of toxoplasmosis and malaria.
 

HIV exceptionalism and ethical 
concerns surrounding HIV testing

April 28, 2011

As medical and public health professionals, PAs are sworn to do no harm, but the varied ways to obtain consent for HIV testing challenge this oath.
 

Dengue fever: Potentially fatal, and now emerging in the United States

March 28, 2011

Long thought to be endemic only in other parts of the world, dengue is the focus of an 
investigation in Key West, Florida, site of a recent outbreak.
 

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.
 

Eliminating health disparities: What works?—December 2010

December 09, 2010

With a stylish Internet splash, the US Department of Health and Human Services has rolled out Healthy People 2020, placing further (and needed) emphasis on health disparities and social determinants of health.
 

Hypertension: 
Is BP out of 
control or uncontrolled?

From CSAC, the Clinical and Scientific Affairs Council of the AAPA September 14, 2010

The condition is prevalent in all patient populations despite the availability of evidence-based guidelines for effective treatment and management.
 

Stress management: Helping patients to find effective coping strategies

, September 01, 2010

The impact of stress on physical and mental health illustrates the need for a variety of effective coping techniques.
 

Is banning direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA) consistent with bioethical principles?

August 11, 2010

The impact of DTCA on patients' expectations and PAs' responsibility to provide bioethical treatment are reviewed.
 

The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA): How PAs can protect patients and their families

July 14, 2010

A new law protects against the misuse of genetic information that may reduce health care benefits for patients and their families.
 

Lyme disease rash is not always a bull's eye

June 30, 2010

On target with Lyme disease: Understanding vector-borne infections
 

Lyme disease: More than a controversy

June 30, 2010

On target with Lyme disease: Understanding vector-borne infections
 

Is it ethically permissible to mandate influenza vaccination for health care workers?

June 09, 2010

Patient autonomy does not always transcend to health care workers. The author makes a case for patient safety to be an overruling factor.
 

Substance abuse: Performance-enhancing practices in the 21st century

From CSAC, the Clinical and Scientific Affairs Council of the AAPA May 11, 2010

Competitors have used performance-enhancing practices since ancient times. PAs should be aware of the signs of potential misuse.
 

On target with Lyme disease: Understanding vector-borne infections

May 03, 2010

Most infections are cured with antibiotic therapy; however, PAs should be alert for symptoms of persistent disease.
 
 
 

Safety and adherence: Complex issues that hinder childhood vaccination programs

January 06, 2010

Scrutiny of recommended childhood vaccines continues to support their effectiveness. Yet, many parents may still need reassurance.
 

H1N1 in perspective: The clinical impact of a novel influenza A virus

December 01, 2009

This review of novel and seasonal influenza viruses can help PAs prepare for H1N1 pandemic challenges during this flu season.
 

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