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As a Physician Assistant -Your Role in The Delivery of Quality Healthcare is More Important than Ever.
The PA profession is the fourth fastest growing health care profession in the country. Approximately 245 million visits to PAs are made annually. PAs conduct physical examinations, make diagnoses and treat illnesses, order and interpret tests, counsel on preventive health care, assist in surgery, make rounds in nursing homes and hospitals, and write prescriptions. PAs prescribe 303 million medications to patients each year and practice in more than 60 different specialty fields including primary care, pediatrics, surgery, cardiology, obstetrics, and gynecology,
dermatology, and emergency medicine.
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To Oregon's PA Community:
By: Ian Hartman, PA-C, OSPA President
Nine months ago you elected me your OSPA President. At that time I committed myself to leaving the OSPA in an even better position than that which I benefited from when Barbara Martin was President.
The OSPA would be nothing without our members. We made a major change in 2013 when we switched the membership renewal cycle to a January - December cycle. If you haven't yet renewed your OSPA membership for 2013, please do so today. Links to membership renewal can be found on the OSPA web site. With the stellar leadership of Education Committee Chair Saje Davis-Risen, the OSPA set new records in attendance, profit, and attendee ratings. Not only did we set a new standard of quality in educational programs, location and meeting content, the OSPAfest celebration was born and will become a traditional program when the 2013 Fall CME takes place at Salishan Resort on the Oregon coast. Please Save the Dates now for October 17 - 20, 2013 as the dates when you need to take a break from your day-to-day practice and recharge your personal and mental batteries with the latest educational updates benefiting you and your patients. In fact, get your practice administrator involved now in approving the time off for you to attend the 2013 OSPA Fall CME. You, your practice, and most importantly, your patients will benefit from being there. The OSPA's advocacy efforts have been another success in 2013. With a legislature focused on making cuts, the OSPA maintained its position of strength in the State. More of our legislators understand the key role that PAs play in the delivery of quality medicine, and the OSPA will be capitalizing on that for the rest of 2013 and beyond. Special thanks to our lobbyists Elizabeth Remley and Dan Bates of Thorn Run Partners, and OSPA Advocacy Chair Erin Cramer for their key roles in making the OSPA's advocacy movement the success that it was and is! Please get involved by joining me as a member of the OSPA PAC. The voice of the OSPA in Salem depends heavily on your support of the PAC. Communication amongst the PA community is important. While there are a few of you who can effectively exist on your own, most of us benefit by exchanging knowledge with others in our field. We are currently testing Google Groups as a means of having OSPA members in specialty and general fields being able to communicate with one another using electronic technology to share your successes and failures, and challenges and opportunities, in providing patient care. Want to join the Group? There's a link further into this newsletter. The leadership of the OSPA is better than one could imagine. From the past Presidential leadership of Kate Grace and Barbara Martin, to the upcoming term of David Greene, your OSPA is in great hands. I encourage you to discover for yourself what make the OSPA the outstanding organization that it is. David will have his own plans for the OSPA, but I already know that one of his key plans is getting YOU involved in the OSPA. Interested? Join me on an OSPA committee today - and have your talents and expertise a key part of David Greene's Presidency. I want to thank you for your support of the OSPA. We truly are the voice of the PA community with the legislature in Salem, and to the public throughout Oregon. It's been a great year and I plan on staying involved into the future. For now, please do the following: 1) If you haven't renewed your 2013 OSPA membership, please do so today at www.oregonpa.org If your OSPA membership is current, tell a fellow PA what the OSPA does for you and your profession, and get them involved. 2) OSPA Education - Save the Dates of October 17 - 20, 2013 as the dates when you will be attending the 2013 Fall CME at Salishan. another outstanding program is currently being planned. 3) OSPA Advocacy - A powerful voice in mandatory in Salem. If an organization's voice is silent, seldom does anything you want or need become a reality. The squeakiest wheels in Salem DO get the grease (attention). We need your support and assistance. Please join our OSPA PAC today. Oregon state law allows Oregon taxpayers to receive a direct tax credit of up to $50 for a $50 PAC contribution. Has free money ever been more free? You give $50 - you get $50 back.$100 if your spouse does the same as you. 4) Communication among ourselves - If you are interested in joining the Group - let us know. We really want you to be part of the Group. 5) Our OSPA's leadership's need to have you involved. One person can not lead the OSPA. In fact, a Board can't do it without the support and involvement of the membership. Please share your talents with the OSPA. We want/need your involvement. More from me later. For now, please recheck items 1 - 5. There is at least one or more demanding your involvement for the sake of our specialty. Sincerely
Ian Hartman, PA-C
OSPA President
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Are Your 2013 Dues Current?
Please visit the OSPA web site at www.oregonpa.org and update your records. While there, confirm that your contact information is current, and that you and your practice have renewed your dues online. Remember that your login is your email address. Your password is set by you. Forgot your password? It's easy to reset online.
Your dues support makes possible all that we do for the PA community, including strengthening the Voice of Oregon's PAs in Salem and throughout the State.
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OSPA Education
By: Saje Davis-Risen, OSPA Education Committee Chair
In 2012, your OSPA Board voted to eliminate the Spring CME and make the Fall CME the primary education source for Oregon PAs. By reducing the planning schedule to just one CME event, it provided the OSPA with the opportunity to make the Fall CME event even bigger and better. The result with our 2012 Fall CME was record attendance, outstanding presenters discussing some of the latest technologies and practices affecting PAs from specialties and general practice, and the birth of the OSPAfest - a party celebration for PAs, their families, and our presenters.
We've already begun the planning process for the 2013 OSPA Fall CME. We're returning to the spectacular Salishan Resort on the Oregon coast, and we'll be there October 17 - 20, 2013. Do you have suggestions for topics you would like to see discussed at the Fall CME, or you know of an outstanding presenter who should be presenting, please send an email to the OSPA office at ospa@oregonpa.orgWe're also exploring an additional educational opportunity for OSPA members that will provide regular CME-earning potential. If we're successful in our efforts, be on the lookout for notices about monthly or bi-monthly CME webinars featuring some of Oregon's medical community. The plan for the webinars is to provide an opportunity for Oregon PAs to network with others, update their knowledge base, and earn CME. More details to follow. What are your thoughts about this potential benefit - would you participate? Let us know at ospa@oregonpa.orgDid you miss the 2012 Fall CME at Salishan? Check out a few of the photos from the Fall CME 2012.
Save the Date for the 2013 Fall CME
Salishan Resort, Gleneden Beach, Oregon
October 17 - 20, 2013
2012 Fall CME Meeting Room
2012 Fall CME Lunch Meeting
2012 Fall CME Sutures Workshop
 2012 Fall CME OSPAfest Celebrants from Pacific and OHSU
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OSPA Advocacy
By: Elizabeth Remley, Thorn Run Partners, OSPA Lobbyist
The Oregon legislative session is about halfway over, and OSPA's legislative priorities continue to move along. OSPA is monitoring legislation related to Oregon's reform of the Medicaid delivery system (Coordinated Care Organizations) and budgets for health care-related programs including mental health, among other issues. OSPA's priorities include:
House Bill 2902 - would require commercial insurers to reimburse PAs and Nurse Practitioners at the same rate for the same service in primary care and mental health. HB 2902 is awaiting a hearing in the Senate Committee on Health Care and Human Services, and we expect it to pass.
Senate Bill 325 - extends the tax credit for rural medicine, but changes the eligibility requirements to providers engaged in rural medicine for at least 20 hours a week, averaged over a month; providers must be willing to see Medicare and medical assistance patients and must have adjusted gross income of less than $250,000 for a single tax return or $500,000 for a joint return. The new limitations were a compromise because the budget is smaller for this tax credit program. We expect SB 325 to pass.
Senate Bill 440 - creates Primary Care Provider Loan Repayment Fund, which will offer loan repayment to primary care providers (MDs, PAs and NPs) who serve in rural or underserved areas for a specific period of time. Students must enroll in the program before they graduate.
Senate Bill 2 - creates a scholarship program to pay for tuition and fees at OHSU for medical, PA and NP students who pledge to serve a specified period of time in rural or underrepresented communities after they graduate.
The OSPA Lobby Day which was held on March 13th was a huge success. Our legislative appointments with the House and Senate leaders provided the OSPA with a direct opportunity to make a difference for the PA profession in Salem.
Are you interested in getting involved with the OSPA's advocacy efforts? Please notify the OSPA office and we'll find a place for you on the committee.
    Are you a contributor to the OSPA Political Action Committee for 2013?
Won't you Become a Contributor Today and Assist the OSPA in Increasing the Voice of PAs in Salem?
Oregon is one of a few States which allows a donor to receive a direct tax credit for individual PAC contributions of $50 per person or $100 per married couple. For example, if you contribute $50 ($100 for a married couple filing jointly) to the OSPA PAC - you receive a tax credit of $50 ($100) off of your 2013 State of Oregon tax liabilities.
Making a Contribution is Simple -
Visit www.oregonpa.org/Political_Action
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OSPA - 2013 Elections
By: Ian Hartman, PA-C, OSPA President
OSPA Elections are coming up shortly. Are you interested in getting more involved in OSPA's leadership? If so, send a letter/email of interest to the OSPA office along with your current CV.
A notice containing a link the electronic ballot will be sent to all OSPA members of record in early June for a June 15th election deadline. Please update your member records and watch your email box for the link.
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OSPA - From the Trenches
By: OSPA's Area Representatives
Here's what's happening from a few of the OSPA representatives:
Edwin Weih, PA-C - Eugene and Rural PAs
This has been a busy time. As a rural PA I continue to see if the full spectrum of family practice medicine. A small complaint is that Medicare seems to be getting more stringent in denying my requests for home health care, hospice care, durable medical equipment etc. In the past I think they let some of this slide and would honor these requests but currently they are denying just about everything they can.
On a local level we have been very active at the Capitol. We have moved a bill from the House health care committee that will allow primary care NPs and PAs to have their reimbursement kept at the level a physician's reimbursement is instead of being reduced by 15%. Currently Medicare reimburses pays us at 85% of what they reimburse a physician. If this bill finally passes it will help keep the doors open in many a primary care practice.
All the best to all of you for all that you do for your patients,
Kate Grace, PA-C - Eastern PAs
Dear Friends - as the regional contact for the OSPA covering the rural areas of Oregon, I often wonder if everyone else's business and personal life is as hectic as mine. With new clinic acquisitions and changeovers in practices, not to mention personal responsibilities, life is like living in a zoo.
While I trust you are all doing fine - I welcome your thoughts on how the OSPA can best serve your needs - 'the needs of a rural PA in today's busy world.' Let me know - as I do want to hear from you.
Nicole O'Neill, PA-C - Bend PAs
Organizing Bend area PAs so far has been fun and the feedback I have received has been great. In general PAs want to be a part of a community and be connected for both professional and personal reasons. I was able to organize a dinner with an educational presentation sponsored by a product Reprehensive. About 15 PAs from the area were able to attend. We touched on OSPA and their agenda and promoted issues like student mentorship, the annual conference, and political action committee funding. My goal is to get these meetings sponsored quarterly so that communication can continue and we have a local forum for job opportunities, successes and issues that are specific to PAs. With regional organization our state organization will only grow stronger and I look forward to seeing that occur.
Barbara Martin, PA-C - Portland/Salem PAs
PAs remain active and involved in the Portland region and surrounding areas. OSPA continues to work with PAs in the region, the local PA Programs, and the Oregon Medical Board to promote the PA profession.
If you are in the Portland/Vancouver area and are interested in networking sponsored dinners and other PA related information, please consider joining the "Portland-Vancouver PA Society" - you can find us by searching for the "P-VPAS" Yahoo group and asking to join.
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OSPA - From the PA Schools - OHSU and Pacific
OHSU PA Program - Brian Mills, PA-SBeing a first year PA student involves a fair amount of studying, more studying, and yet even more studying. However, that does not mean that PA students do not know how to have fun or participate in other activities. PA students at OHSU are participating in a diverse array of activities while also meeting the program's high academic standards. Linn Bergander, an exemplary first year student, maintains her interest in public health while still managing the rigorous demands of being a first year PA student. Over the past year Linn has kept her research interests peaked by finishing her manuscript and presenting her data at the 10th Annual Western Regional International Health Conference. Her research addresses the racial and ethnic disparities amongst women seeking abortions in the state of Georgia and the need for equal improvements in contraception, sex education, and healthcare access. Additionally, Linn is assisting the OHSU OB/GYN Department in their collection of data on the outcomes of first trimester surgical abortions compared to advanced practice clinicians and physician providers. This data will hopefully expand the roles of NPs and PAs in Family Planning. In other news, PA students have had a few great opportunities for inter-professional exchange. The class has been collaborating in small groups with medical students through a Principles of Clinical Medicine course, giving both groups a chance to benefit from the other's unique point of view. In addition, first year student, Alison Stengrim, found time to organize a campus-wide trampoline dodgeball tournament. The tournament hosted teams of PA students, Medical students, Nursing students, and Dental students. This event was an excellent fundraiser for the OHSU PA program as well as another fantastic opportunity for inter-professional exchange. Although being a first year PA student is extremely challenging, projects and events such as these encourage students to be well-rounded and motivate them to pursue their individual interests. As our first year of PA studies comes to a close, many of us look forward to the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead of us in our clinical year. Pacific University PA Program, Leza Hayes PA-S The Pacific University PA students took part in Project Homeless Connect in January here in Washington County. We provided history taking and vital signs services for the dental and opthalmic areas. We are winding down our didactic year and looking forward to our first clinical rotations which begin June 24, 2014.
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Local Physician Assistant Receives New Specialty Credential
Keir Todd PA-C was recently awarded a Certificate of Added Qualifications (CAQ) in Psychiatry from the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). He earned that distinction by meeting licensure, education and experience requirements and then passing an exam in the specialty. Mr. Todd, who is employed by the Curry Health Network, is the only certified PA in Oregon to earn a CAQ in Psychiatry since the inception of this new specialty credential in 2011. "With the growing shortage of doctors, increases in patient populations and intensifying demand on our health care system, certified PAs are needed now more than ever," said Pamela M. Dean, NCCPA's acting president and CEO. "With the CAQ, PAs can more easily document their expertise and showcase their commitment to their profession and to their specialty." Certified PAs are licensed and certified health care professionals who practice medicine in partnership with one or more physicians and bring a breadth of knowledge and skills to patient care. Though their role in any particular workplace is determined in consultation with the supervising physician, certified PAs can take histories, conduct physical exams, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret tests, counsel on preventative health care, assist in surgery, perform a variety of procedures, and write prescriptions. For more information about certified PAs or the CAQ program, visit www.nccpa.net. More about the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants The National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) is the certifying organization for physician assistants in the United States. Since its inception as a not-for-profit organization in 1975, more than 100,000 physician assistants have been certified by NCCRA, and more than 90,000 are certified today. In addition to its CAQ program, NCCPA also administers initial and recertifying exams, and has an established program for certification maintenance.
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A Recent Article on the Growth of PAs in Rural Oregon
Here's an interesting article on the growth of the number of PAs in rural Oregon that recently appeared in The Argus Observer.
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In an AWLS course, you will learn the skills to prevent medical problems, reduce suffering and save lives in non-traditional medical settings. The classes are extremely practical with a significant amount of hands-on practice time and a low student-instructor ratio to allow for personal instruction. You will be taught recommended techniques for patient evaluation, treatment, and evacuation, all with an emphasis on the austere environment. After taking this course, you will be much better prepared for emergency medical scenarios that you may encounter in a wilderness or remote environment, all while earning up to 20.5 hours of category 1 pre-approved CME, which can also be applied to credits for a Wilderness Medical Society Fellowship. http://www.awls.org
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The OSPA to Test Google Groups to Connect Oregon's PAs
We're currently testing Google Groups as a means for Oregon's PAs to connect with other PAs across the State. Since few of us like to be 'wheel reinventors' when someone else has already been there and done that, our goal is to set up these groups of like-minded PAs, with similar interests, backgrounds and specialty practices. The entire process will be voluntary. Are you interested in such a program? If so, send the OSPA office an email with the Subject Line of "Google Groups" and tell us what type of group you would like to see started.
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