WAPA News
The Long Road Home Project
"What can we do to serve our veterans as they come home?"
This summer, 5 US veterans will bicycle across our great nation. This group of former service people includes men and women of diverse ages, ethnicities, religious backgrounds, political affiliations, sexual identities, and physical abilities. Despite their differences, these 5 intrepid veterans are united
1. United in their effort to heal their wounds from war via a long distance ride.
2. United to bring awareness to the fact that hundreds of thousands of service people often face difficulty returning home.
3. United to raise money to help other veterans live more fulfilling and meaningful lives.
The 4200 mile journey begins on July 15 near Tacoma, WA and
will conclude in Washington D.C. about 90 days later.
During the same 90 day period:
- Over 1,500 vets will have committed suicide.
- The tally of PTSD cases since the inception of the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan will have reached over 270,000.
- Nearly 50,000 veterans will have returned home physically wounded since 2001.
- Approximately 300,000 vets will spend a night on the street.
Go to
http://longroadhomeproject.com/ for more information
Pain Management Rules for Physicians and Physician Assistants are Effective January 2, 2012
As a reminder:
- The 2010 legislature passed engrossed substitute house bill 2876 requiring that the medical quality assurance commission, and four other boards and commissions, adopt rules regarding the management of chronic noncancer pain.
- The law required that the rules contain specific mandatory elements as well as guidelines. The medical commission adopted their rules for physicians and physician assistants that are effective January 2, 2012.
- The goal of these rules is to provide guidance regarding prescribing for practitioners who treat patients with chronic pain. A key component of the rules is to encourage practitioners to become better educated in the safe and effective uses of these powerful drugs.
- All practitioners who prescribe long-acting opioids are encouraged to have at least four hours of continuing education on that topic.
- Practitioners who have 12 continuing education credits on the topic of chronic pain management within the prior two years are exempt from the requirement for a pain management consultation when prescribing more than 120 mg morphine equivalent per day.
The medical commission worked with the agency medical directors’ group to provide four hours of free CME. Information regarding this CME is available here.
More information regarding the pain management laws and subsequent rules, as well as guidance and resources are available via the medical commissions web page and the Department of Health’s web page.
Forbes Magazine article on Best and Worst Master’s Degrees
– PA tied for first place with computer science!
Click here to read more
MQAC Letter on Practice Plans
Click here to read
"So You Want to be a Physician Assistant"
by Beth Grivett, PA-C
Click the link below if you are curious about the Physician Assistant profession. It is a great resource for anyone who wants to be a PA and answers many questions-What do PAs do? How do I become a PA? And What to expect.
physicianassistantbooks.com
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MD News Article on PAs!
Click the image to read.
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Video of UW CME on Pain Managment Legislation
Click here to view. |
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Job Posting With WAPA
To have your job posted send an email to WAPA
We require: 1000 characters or less, a brief job description, a contact person, a way for the PA to send you their CV with cover letter (do you prefer email, fax, hard copy) We do not charge a fee to post jobs on the WAPA website and run them for 90 days. If you need your job listed for more than 90 days, re-send your job opening to WAPA. Our openings are viewed by PAs in WA and those hoping to re-locate to WA.
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Get Involved on the State and National Scene!
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Get Involved With Your WAPA Region!
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Click your region to email the Region Director and ask how to get involved.
Region 1: Chelan, Douglas, Okanogan, Ferry, Stevens, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Spokane
Region 2: Kittitas, Grant, Adams, Whitman, Garfield, Asotin, Columbia, Walla Walla, Franklin, Benton,
Yakima and Klickitat
Region 3: San Juan Island, Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish
Region 4: King, Pierce, Thurston
Region 5: Lewis, Pacific, Cowlitz, Wahkiakum, Clark, Skamania
Region 6: Clallam, Jefferson, Kitsap, Mason, Grays Harbor
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WAPA's Mission
To ensure the professional growth and recognition of PAs in the healthcare team and promote excellence of patient centered care in Washington State
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