Clinical

During the upcoming CDC Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA) Call, clinicians can learn about options for testing suspected Ebola virus infection in coordination with state and local public health authorities and CDC, as well as the benefits and limitations of existing diagnostic tools.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force released today a final recommendation statement on screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). AAA often has no signs or symptoms and can burst, or rupture, without warning. Recommendations vary depending on sex, age, smoking status, and family history.

PAs should check out CDC’s online tools to help get patients vaccinated during this flu season. This year, CDC is focusing on high risk groups who are at additional danger of flu-related complications, including hospitalization and death.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention strongly recommends that health care providers speak with moms-to-be about the benefits of safe Tdap and flu vaccination for their health and the well-being of their babies.

A new initiative, aimed at attracting PAs and NPs to rheumatology careers, kicked off in Atlanta Aug. 10–12. Dubbed The Training Rheum, the three-day boot camp is part of a budding alliance and collaboration between the ACR’s Committee on Rheumatology Training & Workforce Issues and the interprofessional division of the ACR, the Association of Rheumatology Professionals, and AAPA.

On average, 130 Americans die every day from an opioid overdose. Eleanor Graber, PA-C, received the PA Foundation’s NIDA Mentored Outreach Award for her project, “Every User Has a Story,” which aims to humanize people with SUD and showcase real-life success stories.

The CDC, FDA, and state and local health departments are investigating a multistate outbreak of lung injury associated with the use of e-cigarette, or vaping, products. They encourage clinicians to report possible cases to local or state health departments.

Acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) causes limb weakness, mostly in children. Prompt symptom recognition, specimen collection, and reporting to CDC are all critical to improve understanding of this complex syndrome, including its risk factors, outcomes, possible treatments, and ways to prevent it.