In this issue:
President’s Letter
STOP Act Update
2017 PA of the Year: Denise Busbin Locklear
Vote in NCAPA Election
Celebrate PA Week!
Commit to the PA Profession: Renew Your NCAPA Membership
Student Leadership Retreat: Save the Date
Regional Chapter CME Opportunities
New at 2018 NCAPA Winter Conference – The Poster Session
PAPA Addresses Hunger During PA Week
Calling Wake Forest PA Graduates
Current Issues for the Advanced Practice Provider
Suturing Workshop Coming to Durham
Supporting PAs in Psychiatry
NCAPA Supports Hurricane Relief Efforts
Comprehensive Online Review for the PANCE/PANRE
Welcome Members!
President’s Letter
by Truett Smith , MPAS, PA-C
Happy 50th Anniversary!!!
I would be remiss as NCAPA President if I didn’t give you a little history lesson of our profession. For many of you seasoned PAs, this is just a reminder of your roots, for others, it may be the first time that you have ever heard of the history of your wonderful profession. It all started around 52 years ago, in 1965. Seasoned Vietnam combat medic and hospital corpsman were returning home from war. They had been taught to suture, to stabilize battle trauma and treat minor illnesses in the field. They needed jobs and the healthcare system needed them.
Photo courtesy Getty Images
Dr. Eugene Stead, a physician and professor at Duke Medical School had been considering an idea to create a new profession that would be an “Assistant to Physicians” for several years. The first “Physician’s Assistant” class graduated from Duke Medical School 50 years ago in 1967.
Photo courtesy of Duke Medical Center Archives
The first PA graduating class included Victor H. Germino, Kenneth F. Ferrell and Richard J. Scheele.
Photo courtesy of Duke Medical Center Archives
Our profession has come a long way in 50 short years. Membership renewals will be arriving in your mailbox soon – I hope you will commit to being a part of the next 50 years and renew your commitment to NCAPA and the PA profession.
Happy Anniversary!
Sincerely,
Truett Smith, MPAS, PA-C, DFAAPA
NCAPA President
STOP Act Update
by Sarah Wolfe, Assistant Vice-President, McGuire Woods Consulting
On Wednesday, September 21, the Advanced Practice Providers/Allied Health Committee of the North Carolina Medical Board (“Board”) plans to consider draft language that defines “personal consultation,” as it relates to the STOP Act requirement that a PA or NP must personally consult with their supervising physician prior to prescribing any Schedule II or III opioid while employed in a pain clinic.
The provision went into effect on July 1, so until the definition of “personal consultation” is approved, the Board has provided the following guidance:
“The Board has not yet determined this. An important consideration is whether a meaningful consultation about the patient and the recommended treatment occurs and is documented in the patient record. The Board might ultimately leave it to the discretion of PAs, NPs and their supervising physicians to determine how consultations occur (e.g. in person, via telephone or other electronic means).”
NCAPA has asked the Board to ensure that the final definition of these words is crafted in a manner that is broad and flexible enough to meet the diverse practice environments across the state. If you have any thoughts on how to specifically define “personal consultation,” please contact Emily Adams at Emily.Adams@ncapa.org.
Click here to read NCAPA’s fact sheet on how the STOP Act will impact PAs and their patients.
2017 PA of the Year: Denise Busbin Locklear
Denise Busbin Locklear, PA-C, is the recipient of the NCAPA 2017 PA of the Year award. Denise is a PA in Fayetteville, NC, specializing in Physical Medicine and Rehab/Pain Management. She organized an NCAPA Regional Chapter, the Fayetteville Association of Physician Assistants Group (FAPA) in 2015 to provide networking opportunities and peer support to PAs in the Fayetteveille and surrounding area, which has “helped many PAs reach out to each other to learn and share ideas.” As one of her nominees wrote:
“Denise is very compassionate with her patients and spends extra time with them, to assure they obtain the help they need. Pain Management can be a very difficult field due to the patient demands and current opioid epidemic. Even when the job is stressful for her, she goes above and beyond for patients and refuses to leave them for an “easier” specialty. She has worked with a local coalition in Fayetteville to improve care and resources for patients when they are faced with addiction. This coalition was responsible for getting project Lazarus to give Narcan to local police and first responders, since Fayetteville has a high rate of opioid overdose. She regularly attends local meetings with colleagues in various fields to discuss the opioid crisis and to work as a local community to decrease the harmful effects that excessive opioid prescribing has had on many North Carolinians.
Denise also regularly precepts PA students and has taught students at Methodist University about pain and related medications.
The PA of the Year award was presented to Denise Locklear during the 41st Annual Summer Conference on Monday, August 21, 2017. Congratulations Denise!
Vote in NCAPA Election
by Emily Adams, Executive Director
All NCAPA Fellow and Associate members whose membership was current as of August 29, 2016 should have received an email with an individual password and a link to an electronic voting site on September 1st. If you did not receive your electronic ballot, please check your spam filter. If you cannot find this email, please contact Kerstin Becker at kerstin.becker@ncapa.org so that she can check your membership status and send you your password and the link to the ballot.
Open positions in this election are President-Elect, Treasurer, three (3) Directors-at-Large, and one At-Large member of the Nominating Committee.
You can read about the candidates on NCAPA’s website and you may also read their platform statements by clicking on their names on the electronic ballot. Voting closes at 11:59pm on Friday, September 30.
Celebrate PA Week!
PA Week, which takes place October 6-12 every year, is dedicated to celebrating PAs and the PA profession. AAPA has many resources to make this PA Week the biggest yet! Download PA Week posters and brochures about PAs and distribute to your family, friends, and employers. Use a PA Week profile icon on social media and so much more. Show your pride about how PAs have transformed the practice of medicine in North Carolina! Find all the resources here.
Commit to the PA Profession: Renew Your NCAPA Membership
NCAPA is the only organization in North Carolina solely committed to enhancing and strengthening the profession that was born right here in our great state. You will soon be receiving your membership renewal letter in the mail. Please take a moment to renew your commitment to your PA peers and, most importantly, to yourself, as a practicing PA. We are stronger when we work together, so be sure to encourage your fellow PAs to join you! Renew your NCAPA membership today!
Student Leadership Retreat: Save the Date
North Carolina PA students will soon be invited to attend the NCAPA Student Leadership Retreat on Saturday, November 11, 2017, at the Stead Center in Durham. Our NCAPA Student Leadership Retreat is focused on students preparing to graduate and the challenges ahead. We will share information on how to be involved in advocating for the profession, becoming a leader, as well practical knowledge necessary as a newly practicing PA. Registration at no cost to students! Lunch is provided.
Topics will include:
- Advocating for the PA Profession
- NC Licensure and New Opioid Prescribing Rules
- Hiring PAs – What Companies are Looking For: Panel Discussion
- The Future of the PA Profession
All current students will be sent an official invitation later this month. Be sure to RSVP quickly, as enrollment is limited to 5 students per program. If you have any questions concerning the event, please do not hesitate to contact Kat Nicholas, NCAPA Director of Membership and Marketing at kat.nicholas@ncapa.org.
Regional Chapter CME Opportunities
PAPA 2017 Fall Seminar
Forsyth Medical Conference Center
3333 Silas Creek Parkway, Winston Salem, NC 27103
October 14, 2017 | 7:30am – 4:00pm
Piedmont Association of Physician Assistants is holding their Annual Fall Seminar in Winston-Salem again this October. For more information and to register, go here.
FWNCPEA 2017 Fall Conference
Harrell Center Auditorium
Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center
October 14th, 2017 | 8:00am – 4:00pm
Far West NC Physician Extender Associates is holding their Annual Free Fall Conference in Lake Junaluska in October. 6 hours of Category 1 CME (AAPA approval pending). For more information, visit www.fwncpea.com or email fw.nc.pea@gmail.com.
New at 2018 NCAPA Winter Conference – The Poster Session
Are you a PA or student in clinical practice who has recently seen a great clinical case, which you know your colleagues would enjoy learning about? Or maybe you are an educator who just can’t wait to share your latest research or innovation in teaching students? And what about those of you who can’t wait to share a community outreach or professional advocacy project? We have something for everyone attending the next NCAPA Winter Conference (also known as the Recertification Exam Review Conference) in February of 2018.
The NCAPA and the NC PA Program Directors Council have partnered to provide an opportunity for scholarship at the next NCAPA Winter Conference by sponsoring a poster session. More information will be forthcoming in the next few weeks; in the meantime, some basic information:
- There will be four categories of submission, each of which will have separate guidelines. The categories will include: Clinical Case Study, Research (education, clinical, scientific), Educational Innovation, and Professional/Community Outreach. Also, there will be a special student category, which can be in any category of submission, but for which the first author must be a student.
- Authors will be able to electronically submit abstracts until November 1 and receive a decision about acceptance no later than December 10, 2017. Previously presented/published studies will be considered, but preference will be given to those which have not yet been presented/published. Research studies must have results, even if preliminary.
- Presentation of posters will be held on Sunday, February 25, 2018. You do not have to attend the full Winter Conference to be eligible to participate in the poster session.
- It is anticipated that up to 20 posters will be accepted for presentation.
So be thinking about what you might want to share with colleagues at the next NCAPA Winter Conference! More information will be posted on the NCAPA website, as well as included in future issues of The Pulse. If you have any questions, feel free to contact NCAPA Executive Director, Emily Adams at emily.adams@ncapa.org.
PAPA Addresses Hunger During PA Week
by John H. Cain, MSPAS, PA-C, PAPA President
In October 1967, the Physician Assistant (PA) profession began in North Carolina. For a half century, PAs have been providing high quality patient care to North Carolinians while also addressing issues that affect the health and well-being of communities across the Tar Heel State. To continue this tradition of providing care and compassion as well as to celebrate National PA Week, the Piedmont Association of Physician Assistants (PAPA) is launching PAPA Fights Hunger, a community service initiative aimed at tackling the issue of food insecurity and hunger in the Piedmont Triad – a public health crisis affecting 1 out of every 6 residents and 1 out of every 4 children living in our region of North Carolina.
By hosting local food drives during National PA Week running from October 6th through 12th and/or simply giving individual donations of non-perishable food items or cash during the 2017 PAPA Fall CME Seminar scheduled for October 14th at the Forsyth Medical Center in Winston-Salem, PAPA members will help stock the shelves of the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina, a member of Feeding America, the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief organization. Through their Core Food Distribution Program, the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina is the major source of food and grocery products for over 450 non-profit food assistance programs across an 18-county region of our state – many of which are the same counties served by the Piedmont Association of Physician Assistants. Through this initiative, PAPA has a goal of collecting at least 500 non-perishable food items to feed those in need. Follow efforts through social media using #PAPAFightsHunger and #PAWeek.
Formed in 1985, the Piedmont Association of Physician Assistants is a 501c6a non-profit organization that serves as the professional association for PAs in North Carolina’s Piedmont Triad in addition to being a Regional Chapter of the North Carolina Academy of Physician Assistants.
Calling Wake Forest PA Graduates
by Alisha DeTroye, PA-C
Do you often reminisce about your days in Winston Salem? Do you desire to “return” to PA school? Are you looking for a CME conference that covers broad based educational topics but allows you to utilize your critical thinking in an inquiry based learning environment? If you answered yes to any of these questions, please join us for Wake Up Winston-Salem, November 1-3, 2017 at the new location of Wake Forest PA Studies, 525 Vine Street. Our venue is in the heart of Wake Forest Innovation Quarter and you will have the opportunity to explore the great expansion of downtown culture, restaurants and entertainment in the evenings. During the day you will obtain 16 hours of Category 1 CME from experts in the field of medicine. Register by September 30th to lock in the early bird rate.
If your CME budget does not allow you to attend the conference, please still plan to attend our Wake Forest alumni event Wednesday November 1st from 5:00-8:30pm in Bailey Park. Enjoy catching up with friends while enjoying a night of entertainment, food and fellowship. Register today for either/both events here.
Current Issues for the Advanced Practice Provider
On October 27th, 2017,The Duke Cancer Institute is presenting Current Issues For The Advanced Practice Provider at The Umstead Hotel & Spa in Cary, NC. For the full agenda and registration, go here.
Suturing Workshop Coming to Durham
Suturing Workshop
The Stead Center
112 Slater Road
Durham, NC
Saturday, October 28th
Registration will open soon!
Supporting PAs in Psychiatry
by Emily Adams, Executive Director
NCAPA is committed to reducing barriers to PA practice in North Carolina. Recently, a local management entity/managed care organization (LME/MCO) in our state established new credentialing requirements that impact PAs working in psychiatry. The new requirements include several additional supervision requirements and/or CAQ requirements which do not align with PA state law, national certification, and practice.
PA students have training in psychiatry throughout their didactic and clinical curriculum, and many new graduates are interested in pursuing careers in psychiatry. We want to ensure that NC patients are able to access quality team based psychiatric care and reduce barriers to PAs who want to work in this field. To that end, NCAPA has submitted a letter asking the LME/MCO to add additional credentialing options, which will allow more PAs to meet the requirements while still maintaining the high quality of care.
NCAPA recognizes changes occurring within these systems create barriers to care and limitations on PA scope of practice, and we will advocate for change. We are interested in mapping this issue to see if it goes beyond one payer and create a broad response. If you or a PA colleague is affected by any new credentialing or reimbursement requirements please contact Emily Adams, NCAPA Executive Director at emily.adams@ncapa.org.
NCAPA Supports Hurricane Relief Efforts
by Emily Adams, Executive Director
The Executive Committee voted to donate $1,000 to the Red Cross to support Hurricane Relief efforts. Many people were impacted by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma and resources are needed for recovery. NCAPA recognizes the contributions our members make every day to our community and the valuable role PAs play in these recovery efforts. We are proud to stand with the millions of other Americans who are joining together to support the areas in need.
Comprehensive Online Review for the PANCE/PANRE
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*Exam Master® has no affiliation with National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) or Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB)
Welcome Members!
Welcome to our renewing and our brand new members!
The following members have joined or renewed their membership since our last issue. Thank you all for your support of NCAPA and all PAs in North Carolina!
Joseph Baker, Statesville
Charles Bryant, Hendersonville
Elizabeth Bunting, Greenville
Samantha Call, Kannapolis
Dennis Chrismon, Elon
Tara Coleman, Durham
Nathan Conroy, Siler City
Douglas Dalton II, North Tazewell, VA
Jenny Daniel, Chapel Hill
Brian Doss, High Point
Jennifer Gerard, Winston Salem
Regina Gum, Ocean Isle Beach
Eric Kirch, Raleigh
Evanthia Lakis, Fayetteville
Gregory Leamy, Benson
Rich Leshock, Winston-Salem
Ann Lewis, Clinton
Johanna Mencel, Matthews
Emily Moore, West Jefferson
Heather Penny, Lincoln University, PA
Charles Phillips, Yadkinville
Craig Purcell, Cary
Tamela Raynor, New London
William Rehl, Marietta, OH
Keith Rockwiley, Timmonsville, SC
Steve Russo, Selden, NY
Kristy Rutan, Pisgah Forest
Alexandra Sterling, Charlotte
Tonique Tabron, Wilson
Ann Whitaker, Raleigh
Joseph Williams, Rocky Mount
