Election Results and AwardsFrom the 2018 NAPA Breakout Meeting at the AAPA ConferencePresented by LCDR Stephen RogersNAPA President This is the text of a presentation given at the NAPA Breakout Meeting at the 2018 AAPA Impact Conference in New Orleans, LA. NAPA members may log in and view the presentation slides here. Election Results and NAPA Awards from 2018 AAPA Conference NAPA BOD Elections Thank you to all who have participated in NAPA's recent votes. Your efforts have lead to a successful NAPA Chapter Board of Directors election. We are excited to announce 2018 Election Results for NAPA Chapter BOD Officers. Our newly elected BOD Officers are: President-Elect - LT Benjamin MattoxNaval Medical Center Portsmouth Vice-President - LT Jason EhrhartMCRD San Diego Treasurer - LT Eddie LinaresCVN 78 Ford Secretary - Lt Carolan WhitneyCVN 69 Eisenhower Legislative Affairs Chair - LT Tawanda CadeNaval Health Clinic Hawaii Open positions:Active Duty Director-at Large & Retired Director-at-LargePlease contact LT Whitney if you would like to...

NAPA Dinner and Meeting2018 AAPA ConferenceNew Orleans, LASunday, 20 May 2018 at 1800 Please join us for the NAPA dinner and meeting at the 2018 AAPA ConferenceLadies & Gentlemen,We take great pleasure in announcing this year’s Naval Association of Physician Assistants (NAPA) meeting will take place on Sunday, 20 May 2018 at 1800 as a dinner/business meeting. We’re doing something a little bit different by combine two events in one and allowing for full access to all the CMEs during the day (many requested last year). We will go over NAPA business and present our annual awards; not to mention some great comradery & networking.Location:Pigeon & Prince, 129 Camp Street, New Orleans, LA 70130(3rd floor)ph 504.553.6738This is just south of the conference center, here's a link to a map with walking directions.Time: Hors d’Oeuvres severed at 1800 with cash bar, dinner and meeting to start at 1900.Cost: $40 per person for a...

A quick note, one of our Navy PA colleagues has set up a Facebook page for Marines interested in becoming PAs through the military's Interservice PA Program (IPAP).Per our Student Information and PA Programs page, the IPAP is a PA school for active duty US military members.You may find the Facebook group here:Marines of IPAPSemper Fi,NAPA Webmaster

NAPA members can now earn Continuing Medical Education (CME) credit hours online on the NAPA website. This is the first time we are offering this benefit to our members and we are pleased to be able to support the Navy's PAs by helping them obtain the CMEs required for certification maintenance. 6.75 total hours of AAPA approved category 1 CME are offered for calendar year 2018.To earn credit, NAPA members should log in and click the CME option on the "Members" menu. From there, the available CMEs are listed. Each has a recorded lecture from the 2017 NAPA East Coast Symposium, which should be viewed and then the check-on-learning questions answered. A CME Certificate will be provided for each lecture they successfully complete with a greater than 80% score. The recipient may then log these with NCCPA as usual for CMEs. 

PAs have been providing valuable service in American Healthcare for the past 50 years.PAs are nationally certified and state licensed medical providers trained to diagnose and treat patients as well as prescribe medication. Thanks to an education modeled on the medical school curriculum, PAs learn to make life-saving diagnostic and therapeutic decisions while working autonomously or in collaboration with other members of the healthcare team. PAs are certified as medical generalists with a foundation in primary care.  America Needs PAsPAs are trusted healthcare providers. Studies have shown that PAs help reduce hospital readmission rates, lengths of stay and infection rates.Today, there are more than 115,500 certified PAs in the United States Click here to download a brochure about PAs in American Healthcare from the American Academy of PAs

October 6-12 is national PA WeekThis week is an opportunity to celebrate the PA profession which was begun 50 years ago, on 6 October 1967, with the first three graduates of Duke University's PA program.Since that time, the profession has grown significantly:There are now more than 115,000 practicing PAs in the US alone, and the profession is expanding to other countries.PAs practice and prescribe in all 50 states.There are now more than 220 PA programs educating future PAs.  WHAT IS A PA?PAs are nationally certified and state licensed medical providers trained to diagnose and treat patients as well as prescribe medication. Thanks to an education modeled on the medical school curriculum, PAs learn to make life-saving diagnostic and therapeutic decisions while working autonomously or in collaboration with other members of the healthcare team. PAs are certified as medical generalists with a foundation in primary care. Studies have shown that PAs help reduce...

Physician Assistant Subspecialty Code = 1893 Billets:Primary - 284; Secondary - About 115 “Mob To” platformsEnd Strength = 304Billets types:USMC: 68Joint Forces: 2MTF: 170 (includes 21 Ortho and 07 EMED)Operational: 45 (includes 25 SPECWAR, 11 Sea, 9 APA)  Specialty Spotlight: Physician Assistantby CDR Ed Owens and LCDR Clifton ButlerThe Navy has provided the backbone of the Physician Assistant (PA) profession since its inception in 1967. This year, the PA profession celebrates 50 years of existence and will officially celebrate the birth of the profession on 6 October 2017. While the PA profession officially marks 50 years, Navy PAs have an equally impressive history, beginning their presence seven short years later in 1974. Originally appointed as warrant officers, the community was tasked with providing primary care services to Navy and Marine Corps forces. An incorporation of mid-level providers was thus built into the Navy Medicine construct. In 1989, the first Navy PAs were...

The Navy Medical Service Corps was created on 4 August 1947 by an act of the United States Congress. Originally it had four specialist sections: Supply and Administration, Optometry, Allied Sciences, and Pharmacy. Currently, the Navy Medical Service Corps has three sections: Healthcare Administration, Healthcare Sciences, and Clinical Care Providers.Healthcare Administrators comprise approximately 40% of the MSCHealthcare Sciences are subdivided into the following fields of specialty:Aerospace Experimental PsychologyAerospace PhysiologyBiochemistryEntomologyEnvironmental HealthIndustrial HygieneMedical TechnologyMicrobiologyResearch PhysiologyRadiation HealthResearch PsychologyClinical Care Providers are subdivided into the following fields of specialty:AudiologyClinical PsychologyDietitian/Food ManagementOccupational TherapyOptometryPharmacyPhysical TherapyPhysician AssistantPodiatrySocial WorkThe Medical Service Corps is the most diverse Corps in the Navy with over 2,700 highly trained and specialized officers serving in 31 subspecialties.  Following is a reprinted message from the Medical Service Corps Chief, Rear Admiral Anne Swap.Happy 70th Birthday fellow Medical Service Corps Officers!I wanted to take a moment to wish all of you a happy birthday and to thank you...

Legislative Affairs UpdateFrom the 2017 NAPA Breakout Meeting at the AAPA ConferencePresented by LT Thomas HurtadoNAPA Legislative Affairs Chair and Delegate to AAPA House of Delegates Full Practice Authority and Responsibility (FPAR):An AAPA joint task force was put together, formerly known as FPAR, and now being proposed as Optimal Team Practice (OTP). Placed before the AAPA House of Delegates in order to advance the PA profession in several key issues:Team-Based PracticeElimination of "Supervisory Agreements"Autonomous State BoardsDirect Reimbursements Earlier this year there was a nationwide survey collating PA responses to the new proposal with an overwhelming positive support.  Federal Advocacy:Additionally, there are several key issues at the federal level that AAPA will address. Most of these revolve around barriers to access in patient care or areas where PAs have traditionally been hindered from practicing medicine at the level accorded by their education and training. These issues are mostly based on Medicare laws.HospiceHome HealthCardiac and Pulmonary...

Editor's note: This article appears in the Journal of Health and Human Experience, Volume III, No. 1, pp 77-99, under the title "Empathy and Dedication: Hospital Corpsmen to Physician Assistants - A Wasted Talent Pool in a Time of Need", by a NAPA member David Lash. It is reproduced here in fulll with the permission of the Journal and the Author. You may download a PDF version with retains the original article layout here. Empathy and Dedication:Hospital Corpsmen to Physician Assistants -A Wasted Talent Pool in a Time of Need David Lash, MPASPhysician Assistant Veterans Health AdministrationCaptain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center Author NoteThis article provides an important insight into the critical role of physician assistants for American health care. The article makes use of a creative combination of academic reflections combined with historical experiences (see below “newscasts”) from the lives of those in this health care service. The author acknowledges the contributions of...

The NAPA Board of Directors recently met and voted to amend NAPA's Constitution and Bylaws, which were subsequently approved and adopted by the Board of Directors.The most substantial change is to establish Regional Affiliates of NAPA:NAPA East (covers locations associated with NAVMEDEAST)NAPA West (covers locations associated with NAVMEDWEST)The new By-Laws also establish the Leadership Positions for the Regional Affiliates of President, Vice-President, and Secretary (2 year terms).Additional details and an organizational chart of NAPA leadership may be found here.NAPA’s current leadership may be found hereNAPA’s current leadership may be found here.Additionally, this realignment provides room for Regional leadership expansion through Regional ad-hoc committees.You may find a copy of NAPA's Constitution and By-Laws here. NAPA has updated its organization to regionally align with Navy Medicine East and Navy Medicine West.NAPA's regional affiliates, NAPA East and NAPA West, will correspond geographically to those commands. As such, NAPA members serving in Navy Medicine East commands...

Election Results and AwardsFrom the 2017 NAPA Breakout Meeting at the AAPA ConferencePresented by LT Ari DoucetteNAPA Vice President and Awards Chair This is the text of a presentation given at the NAPA Breakout Meeting at the 2017 AAPA Impact Conference in Las Vegas, NV. NAPA members may log in and view the presentation slides here. Election ResultsOne position was up for election this year: President-ElectWe received a nomination for one candidate who met requirements.LT Michelle Miller will be NAPA’s 2017-2018 President-Elect AwardsThree nominees were put forward for awards this year, for:NAPA ExcellenceNAPA LeadershipNAPA Lifetime AchievementExcellence AwardThis award honors an outstanding Navy Physician Assistant during the current year.Nominees must be on active duty or in the reserves.Current NAPA BOD Officers are not eligible.Candidates are considered on the basis of demonstrated leadership, professionalism, dedication to quality medical care, enhancement of the image of PAs, involvement in NAPA AAPA, local/state/regional PA affairs, and other achievements.NAPA’s 2017 Excellence...

Reserve PA UpdateFrom the 2017 NAPA Breakout Meeting at the AAPA ConferencePresented by LCDR Clifton ButlerNAPA President 2016-2017 This is the text of a presentation given at the NAPA Breakout Meeting at the 2017 AAPA Impact Conference in Las Vegas, NV. NAPA members may log in and view the presentation slides here. ORGANIZATION OF RESERVES Purpose of The Reserve ComponentSupport Navy Medicine through:IntegrationAugmentationSustainmentMedical supportReserve UtilizationPROGRAMMOB MISSIONOPERATIONAL SUPPORTEMF (4) Commissioned Units500 bed Combat Zone HospitalTrain for MOB COCOM support MTF / NDC SupportProgram 32 (MTF) NR Naval Hospital (8)Care of returning casualtiesTrain for MOB MTF / NDC SupportProgram 9 MARFORRESDeploy with / for AC Medical support for MarinesTrain for MOB Support Marine exercises  Who makes up the PA Reserve Component?Civilian PAs with related careersReservists may be:Former active-duty membersDirect accessionRemains a reservist either voluntarily, or by obligationTypical Drill activity:IDT/IDTT one weekend per month 48 drills per yearAnnual Training (2 week AD) May be up to 29 days earlier...

Presidential State of NAPA AddressFrom the 2017 NAPA Breakout Meeting at the AAPA ConferencePresented by LCDR Clifton ButlerNAPA President 2016-2017 This is the text of a presentation given at the NAPA Breakout Meeting at the 2017 AAPA Impact Conference in Las Vegas, NV. NAPA members may log in and view the presentation slides here. NAPA ObjectivesThe Primary objectives of NAPA are toPromote the training an efficient utilization of Physician Assistants in the United States Navy;To encourage the highest quality of medical care through the process of continuing education of the membership and general publicTo represent the Physician Assistants of the United States Navy within the American Academy of Physician Assistants. NAPA PurposeThe purposes of NAPA are:To render honest and loyal service to the medical profession and to the public,To develop and enforce continuing education programs for Physician Assistants and the association’s membership,To promote the Physician Assistant profession through education of professional and lay people...

​The Naval Association of PAs will hold its annual breakout meeting at the 2017 AAPA conference on 16 May 2017 in the Breakers L room from 07:30 to 12:00 Local.The schedule and agenda follow. TIME ​AGENDA ITEM​​​ ​PRESENTER ​0730 - 0800 ​NAPA Sign in and PA Meet and Greet ​ALL HANDS ​0800 - 0805​Welcome and Introduction of the NAPA Board of Directo...