Safety in clinical settings
Learning objectives After completing this chapter, the reader will be able to: 1. Review practical suggestions on maintaining personal safety when on clinical rotations. 2. Summarize the Centers for Disease…
Providing culturally competent health care
Cultural competence The term cultural competence has a variety of definitions but perhaps the most relevant for physician assistants (PAs) is Betancourt‘s 2002 definition: Cultural competence in health care describes…
Patient education
Introduction Patient education is an integral part of every health care interaction. It is one of the most powerful tools that a health care provider can use to influence positive…
Interpersonal and communication skills/people and technology – using technology without alienating patients
Learning objectives 1) Define distracted doctoring and how it influences patient safety outcomes. 2) Describe the “iPatient” and its relationship toward patient-centered care. 3) Identify issues relating to personal electronic…
Communication issues
“Primum non plus nocere quam succurrere.” Above all else, do not harm more than succor. Introduction The consequences of poor communication in the delivery of health care can be dire,…
Considerations for a logical approach to medication prescribing
Objectives • Integrate the World Health Organization steps to rational prescribing into the Physician Assistant practice. • Synthesize an evidence-based approach to prescribing medication. • Analyze research data related to…
Chronic care perspectives
Introduction Chronic conditions are the leading causes of illness, disability, and death in the United States today. In 2014, 60% of U. S. adults had at least one chronic disease,…
The postgenomic era: Genetic & genomic applications for clinical practice
Overview The completion of the Human Genome Project (HGP) has changed how human health and disease is viewed. Physician assistants (PAs) practicing in this postgenomic age of medicine have an…
The political process
Introduction Please do not skip this chapter just because you never intend to become involved in politics. You have entered medicine during a period of rapid and profound changes in…
Health care financing and reimbursement
Learning outcomes • Discuss the concept of value-based reimbursement in health care and explain how it differs from fee-for-service billing. • Define Medicaid and Medicare and explain the differences between…
