Contact: Nancy Hughes
703/836-2272, ext. 3505
Chicago's McCormick Place Convention Center is the setting this year for the American Academy of Physician Assistants 28th Annual Physician Assistant Conference, May 27 to June 1. Some 6,000 physician assistants (PAs) and PA students from across the United States will be gathering to attend workshops, meetings, and seminars to learn about clinical and policy issues affecting their profession.
Reporters who have not pre-registered are still welcome to attend by calling 312/949-3203 (starting May 27), or stopping by the AAPA press room in the convention center, room E261.
Nearly 300 continuing medical education (CME) sessions will be presented at the Chicago conference, covering a wide variety of clinical and general topics. To review the preliminary conference program, visit the AAPA Web site's conference page at www.aapa.org. Leading physicians and physician assistants will teach the sessions. Also, there will be lengthier hands-on workshops to learn and practice technical skills. Because PAs work in nearly every medical and surgical specialty, these sessions will cover a wide spectrum of health issues.
Please note that approval from the press room is required before using cameras and recording devices during the conference.
Some other conference highlights include:
House of Delegates Meetings
The AAPA's House of Delegates will conduct its 24th Annual Meeting during the conference, beginning Saturday, May 27, and continuing through Monday, May 29. Among the resolutions under consideration by the House of Delegates are the following:
* an extensive document providing guidelines for ethical conduct for the physician assistant profession
* a revised policy stating PAs should not participate in executions
* amendments to the "Guidelines for State Regulation of Physician Assistants"
* development of a standardized graduate degree for PAs
* expression of concern about youth violence by calling for the profession to work collaboratively with groups committed to preventing youth violence
PAs for Prevention
PAs for Prevention is a multi-year effort by physician assistants to promote preventive health care in their communities. In support of PAs for Prevention, PAs have been raising funds over the past 12 months for the Host City Project, an effort to give back to the citizens in the community where the AAPA annual conference is held. This year the project is supporting a Chicago preventive health program, the Community-Provider-Patient Partnership to Improve Asthma Care. The Provider-Patient Partnership targets inner city, disadvantaged people who are disproportionately affected by asthma, especially children. The Partnership's goal is to educate and empower patients to monitor their disease, avoid triggers, recognize deterioration early, and take decisive action. A representative from the Partnership will be presented a check for the contributions from PAs and PA students on Saturday afternoon, May 27, during the House of Delegates awards ceremony.
Blood Drive
As part of Project 2000, the AAPA's nationwide project to get PAs and others to donate blood, a blood drive will be held during the conference. The American Red Cross of Greater Chicago will have a blood donation center located near the registration booths in the convention center on Sunday, May 28, and Tuesday, May 30, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Exhibit Hall
The Exhibit Hall will feature more than 200 companies presenting the latest in medical products and services. The hall will be open on Tuesday, May 30, and Wednesday, May 31, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Veterans Day Ceremony
The first physician assistants were former military medics, and each year the AAPA Veterans Caucus and active duty PAs hold a ceremony on Veterans Day to remember military health care providers who have served their country. The ceremony will be held on Monday, May 29, from 4 to 6 p.m.
CME Sessions
Here is a small sampling of the 300 sessions that will be offered during the conference:
Saturday, May 27
American Indian Health: Past-Present-Future
Health Care Access: What is it? Who has it? Who needs it? and Why!
Alternative Medicine: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly
Sunday, May 28
Work-related Asthma and Latex Allergy
Beyond ED: the Other Male and Female Erectile Dysfunction
Sound/Music Therapy: An Adjunct to Clinical Medical Management
Monday, May 29
Antibiotic Resistance
Prostate Cancer: To PSA or not to PSA?
Immunology in HIV
Tuesday, May 30
Surgical or Laser Vision Correction
The Epidemic of Osteoporosis: Assessment and Treatment
21st Century Liposuction
Wednesday, May 31
An Overview of Violence: Methods to the Madness and a Look at Outcomes
It Ain't Always Alzheimer's (Non-Alzheimer's Dementia)
Conscious Sedation: Myths and Tips in Acute Pain
Thursday, June 1
Sleep Disorders
Vertigo
Gun Shot Trauma
Physician assistants are licensed health professionals who practice medicine as delegated by their supervising physicians. PAs deliver a broad range of medical and surgical services to diverse populations in rural and urban settings. As part of their comprehensive responsibilities, PAs conduct physical exams, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret tests, counsel on preventive health care, assist in surgery, and prescribe medications.
AAPA is the only national organization to represent physician assistants in all medical and surgical specialties and all work settings in the United States and the federal services. Founded in 1968, the Academy works to promote quality, cost-effective health care, and the professional and personal growth of PAs. For more information about the Academy and the PA profession, visit the AAPA's Web site at www.aapa.org.
# # #
RSS