Partners in Practice

One of the appealing aspects of the profession for many physician assistants is flexibility in employment. Is there a "norm" in terms of employment? Many PAs have developed jobs outside the traditional clinical setting, including in TV, film, forensic medicine and academics. Bob Blumm, distinguished fellow of the American Academy of Physician Assistants, joins host Lisa Dandrea Lenell to discuss the array of jobs available to physician assistants, and where career growth opportunities may lie in the future.

Even in times of economic recession, the job outlook for physician assistants is very good. Money Magazine recently ranked PA as the second best job in the country, and US News and World Report ranks PA as the top career in America. However, like most jobs, there is still increased competition for employment. PA Bob Blumm, surgical assistant and distinguished fellow of the AAPA, talks with host Lisa Dandrea Lenell about what you need to do to get prepared for your next job interview.

One of the appealing aspects of the profession for many physician assistants is flexibility in employment. Is there a "norm" in terms of employment? Many PAs have developed jobs outside the traditional clinical setting, including in TV, film, forensic medicine and academics. Bob Blumm, distinguished fellow of the American Academy of Physician Assistants, joins host Lisa Dandrea Lenell to discuss the array of jobs available to physician assistants, and where career growth opportunities may lie in the future.

As the medical publishing industry evolves, and journals expand into non-print new media, it's a good time to explore the function of medical journals in the professional lives of PAs and NPs. Will the experience of receiving a journal in the mail soon be a thing of the past? What do we get out of print media that we don't get online, and vice versa? And, in addition to clinical practice information, what can the engaged reader get out of the publications they read? PA Gary Falcetano, publisher of Clinician Reviews and Emergency Medicine, joins host Lisa Dandrea Lenell to discuss the relevance of PA/NP journals, their evolution in the 21st century, and a model for an engaged journal reader.

Laughter has been shown to lower blood pressure, increase blood flow and build endorphins. Nurse practitioner Norma Hannigan, associate professor of clinical nursing at Columbia University in New York, joins host Mimi Secor for a serious discussion of the anecdotal and evidence-based research on laughter and how to use laughter as medicine in your clinical practice.

As medicine takes an increasingly evidence-based approach to care, it's more important than ever for busy clinicians to be able to evaluate the benefits and risk-reduction associated with new treatments and medications. This week's guest, Tom Bartol, nurse practitioner at the Richmond Area Health Center in Richmond, Maine, discusses with host Mimi Secor how to wade through the research data and evaluate statistical significance versus clinical significance, and find the information you need in order to treat your patients more effectively.

ICD-10, HIPPA and OIG sounds more like secret code than medical codes. What do you need to know in order to understand the ever changing world of medical coding and how can you be prepared for what's to come? Betsy Nicoletti, author of The Field Guide to Physician Coding and co-founder of codapedia.com, helps explain to host Lisa Dandrea Lenell how practices can manage changes in coding through technology and billing procedures.

Every year brings changes to Medicare and Medicaid billing, and 2011 is no exception. This year, one main difference is the addition of an annual wellness visit. Betsy Nicoletti, author of The Field Guide to Physician Coding, helps host Lisa Dandrea Lenell sort out new billing codes and rules to help your practice stay compliant, while at the same time maximizing benefits of CMS.

Saudi Arabia is a country that is quickly developing, and as part of that development, physican assistants are filling a newly emerging need in the healthcare system. Our guest is PA David Fahringer, department head and program director at the Prince Sultan Military College of Health Sciences in Dhahran, where students recently completed their first semester in the new 28-month "assistant physician" program. They discuss the advantages and challenges of the program's military component, and how cultural differences are being surmounted to make the program a success.

Laughter has been shown to lower blood pressure, increase blood flow and build endorphins. Nurse practitioner Norma Hannigan, associate professor of clinical nursing at Columbia University in New York, joins host Mimi Secor for a serious discussion of the anecdotal and evidence-based research on laughter and how to use laughter as medicine in your clinical practice.