August 2009 Update
Primary Care Week 2009:
This year the Student Academy has joined with American Medical Student Association (AMSA) to promote National Primary Care Week being held October 19–23. This annual event highlights the importance of primary care and brings health care professionals together to discuss and learn. This year the focus will be on “The Future of Primary Care in America.” AMSA anticipates the participation of a record number of AMSA chapters and the Student Academy leaders are challenging the Student Academy Student Societies and PA students to do the same. The Student Academy is encouraging student societies to hold a community blood pressure screening during the week to promote and give back to primary care. View the materials linked below for more information related to advertisements, screening forms, and educational material. This is a chance to make a statement and give back! Start planning today!
Use the material below to help plan your own blood pressure screening within your community!
Important update regarding health insurance reform:
Affordability of health insurance is a prominent issue facing the United States today. 43% of Americans fear they will not be able to pay for future health insurance, while 22.9% believe they will go bankrupt from not being able to pay their own, or their families, medical bills. Although 85% of Americans believe health care reform is important to address during the nation's economic crisis; since President Obama's inaguration there has been a swing in American's opinion regarding the potential changes. In February, 11% of Americans believed their family will be worse off after the health care overhaul, that number has nearly double to 21% in July. Loss of public support for reform was a key factor in the failurt of President Clinton's health care reform in congress in 1994. A key issue which worries Americans is the price of the overhaul which to date is estimated at more than 1 trillion dollars over the next 10 years.
Get involved with the national debate! As a PA student, you have access to information the general public does not, in addition to having first-hand experience of how health care reform would affect not only the PA profession, but the overall system of care in this country.
Referenced material for this update provided by: HealthReform.org
Student Societies on the Move:
Each month the Student Academy will recognize one school's outstanding effort and commitment to community outreach projects. This month Pace University Lenox Hill Hospital PA program will be featured. The students of Pace University promoted health literacy and education to the disadvantaged children of Sisulu Walker Charter School in Harlem, NY.
The Pace University PA students held an after school enrichment program for a group of about twenty 5th grade students who do not receive a class in health at any time during their middle school education. The middle school students were broken up into groups and the PA students were split into three teaching stations. Within the various stations students learned about different health care careers, got to experiment with some of the tools used to assess health, and why they are important. They were able to listen to their hearts using stethoscopes and took each other's blood pressures, while learning about the benefits of reducing cholesterol through exercise and diet and maintaining a healthy blood pressure.
Positive outcomes of this encounter included:
- The PA students were surprised by how much the middle school students knew, but also by how interested they were to learn even more!
- It was a very enriching experience for them, as well as for the PA students, who enjoyed this great opportunity to work with a diverse population of young students.
- Hopefully the PA students were able to influence some to pursue careers in health, or at the very least, consider the benefits of staying healthy.
If your school has been or is involved in your community, please send a short description of the event or events so your school can be recognized for all of your dedication and hard work in the community.
