Wednesday, February 22, 2012

PA News Update!!

 

         Check It Out!!

         This is what I mentioned during my interview, and this info could set you apart from the other applicants your competing with. Stay UTD! Up-To-Date!!

 

AAPA Welcomes Bill to Increase Access to Hospice Care

2012-01-26
Alexandria, Va. – The American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) welcomes the introduction of a bill, submitted today, allowing physician assistants (PAs) to provide hospice service to Medicare beneficiaries.
Reps. Lee Terry (R-NE) and Mike Thompson (D-CA) introduced HR 3831, the Medicare Hospice Care Access Act, on January 25 on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.
AAPA President Robert Wooten commended Reps. Terry and Thompson, and said that if approved, the bill would remove a significant practice barrier for PAs and increase access to quality health care for those relying on Medicare.
“If physician assistants cannot provide hospice care for their terminally ill Medicare patients, then an undue burden falls on the patient to find alternative care. We cannot deny patients access to their ‘medical home’ at a time when they are the most vulnerable,” Wooten said.
For many Medicare beneficiaries, PAs’ inability to provide hospice care disrupts continuity of care at a time when the patient is vulnerable, forcing families to seek an alternative healthcare professional to manage this important end-of-life services.
Currently, federal law prohibits PAs from providing hospice care to beneficiaries, even though it is allowed by state law. The 1997 Balanced Budget Act made it clear that medical services provided by PAs, as allowed by state law, are covered by Medicare in all settings at a uniform rate. Unfortunately, the former Health Care Services Administration (now the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) determined that the PA Medicare provisions in the Act did not apply to hospice care. As a result, PAs are not allowed to provide hospice care for their patients, forcing families to seek alternative health professionals to provide and manage hospice care services at a time when their attention should be directed toward their family member needing that care.
Wooten said that AAPA will continue to actively build support for the bill.





" Knowledge is Power"

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

My Interview Superbowl Update!!!

BOOM!



         Sorry for the delay on the update of my interview.   I must say though, that I'm super excited about how it unfolded. I took a nice 8 hr drive to a program in Ohio, and brought with me plenty of ammo to knock down the interview.  I walked out of the place feeling like a million bucks. Let's go into how it began...:)

         "I walked into the lobby of the 4th floor, and seen I was there early, with only one other applicant sitting in a sofa chair. I greeted her and we sat talking about the weather. "


         "Next thing you know there are 8 of us sitting in the lobby and we all spoke about hobbies we were into, and where we came from. Utah was the longest adventurer."


         "Then the PA advisor came in to greet us, as well as the Director, they gave us the green light, and it was GAME ON!!!"


        "We went into a conference room that was pleasantly decorated, and as my luck always speaks for itself I was the 1st of 3 individual interviews."


        "As it turns out they never had 6 males in there interview group before, but I was ready to rumble, and as I sat down with my female interviewer she was in my eyes a very nice,  and well spoken women, and placed me at ease. You know what the 1st question was?!? hahaha you could guess!! WHY DO YOU WANT TO BE A PA! Imagin that! Of course I crushed that question!"


        "She asked me about clinical experience and what hobbies I enjoyed. It was a very relaxing experience, and we never did stop speaking until the clock ran out, I surfed down the hall to the second individual interview. This gentleman was a doctor in the university, and came off as a reserved individual. He asked me where I started, and I thought of it as a very open question...haha, so I told him about how I first picked up an interest in the PA occupation to how I further became dedicated. Like a timeline approach.  I emphasized how I chose credentials that would further my abilities as a PA student, and the experiences I've had that would fortify my acceleration throughout the program. "


        "He then asked why their program?! I was ready for this, and I began to speak about the program in it's infancy, an how they have a director who has been committed to the program since then, about the diversity of their staff, about the financial possibilities such as grants and scholarships that are available, and more. I found all of the information on their website, and this was part of intensive preparation that really showed outwardly to this interviewer, or so I felt."


         "I even used an investigator strategy, and learned a little about each facility member so I could ask them questions about there interests. It takes them off guard because I would ask them something specific in their background before they even told us about themselves.  I was thinking that this is going to leave an impression. After all, I'm fighting for 4.5 students just for one seat in the program. They are accepting 40 students this year, and their interviews are running in upwards of 180. So divide 40 into 180 and you get how many students your fighting against for a seat! Competetive!

         So if anyone has questions just let me know, and I'll give my best input. There is a lot more to my interview, but I feel like I could write a novel or a short story. Actually I think that would productive actually. We also had a group interview, and which consisted of a quesion and answer session. It was enjoyable overall, and the best advice that I can give is to be up to date on current events in the PA occupation. I asked the interviewing PA's about health care reform, and how that is going to impact the proffesion. I spoke about the recent Hospice Care Access Act, and how she felt about the first PA to be inducted into congress. There is ample firepower out there to set yourself apart from other applicants during an interview. Do your absolute best to do so by gaining knowledge about the profession! To your success, I will catch you all on the flip side!




" I told them not to measure me by my academic potential, because invested in me isn't potential energy, it's kinetic, an accelerated force to become a PA-C!"


       


         

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

PA News Update!


                                                                  PA News Update!!!

            PAEA Past President Kevin Lohenry and Government Relations Director Athena Abdullah were invited to participate in events, on January 9 and 10, as part of the Joining Forces Initiative of First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, designed to help service members, veterans, and their families. The events included a roundtable at the White House, where the First Lady spoke about the importance of our commitment to train students and clinicians to provide health care for veterans. Check out the rest of the story on: paeaonline.org!


         It's awesome that AAPA president Robert Wooten was also there to accomdate such actions. My goal is to begin a career in Navy as a PA-C. Glad to hear there is an emphasis on taking intiatives for our Veterans!

My Superbowl Has Been Scheduled On February 15th!

My Interview Is Only A Week Away!


         Have I lost some sleep over this opportunity?! Yes! I want it to come so fast so I can prove to them I am a future PA-C! haha These are some of my most recent thought's about the interview:

                      "In Spongebob voice: I'm readeh! I'm readeh! I'm readeh! haha"

                                               "Finally the moment I've been waiting for!"  

                               "I'm not driving a 16hr round trip to not get accepted haha
          
                             " See the ball, hit the ball"     "I have worked very hard to get to this point"

"Although I don't trully don't know the outcome of this, I still see myself as a future PA-C regardless"

          " I have to be realistic, I may not get accepted, but I'm going in there as if I already am "

  " During my interview I AM going to be cool, calm, collective, and exude professialism "

 " I want to ensure the committee than I'm not just an applicant, but I'm Michael Hill future PA-C"

      "I wonder if there are going to be any written tests?!?"  " Will the interview be hard!?!?"

                                               " I will NEVER buckle under pressure


         I think the last thought was a bit heavily stated, but when you THINK and FEEL a certain way your actions typically reflect in the same manner. It's pure statistics, when you say you won't get in, then you WON'T!   There is one thing that I will say, I'm going to try my best!





" If the occupation and I were meant to be together, starting February 15th, I'll have to change the weather. "

     


             

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Preparation...

                             Am I feeling The Top of The Mountain? or Just A False Plateau?!


         So now it's my time right? Well it's an opportunity without a doubt! I'm going to get refreshed with some recent news, and make sure I'm on top of all current events. In fact, I think these are some check points I want to do prior to my departure to Ohio:

- Get updates on current events throughout the PA occupation ( Their impact on the access to healthcare )
- Further research the finer details of the school I applied to.
- Practice aloud the more difficult questions I've heard schools ask.
- Brush up on some medical terminology
- Any other ideas I may be missing?



" Regardless of my near future destiny, there's always a rainbow at the end of a thunderstorm"

Friday, February 3, 2012

Eating My Words!

So I have an interview! Wow!  A blessing! Words couldn't describe the emotions that zipped throughout my body. I felt like I was electrocuted! Seriously, the best feeling of my life! I know I'm ready!

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Facing Myself

      So, today I came to the realization of how difficult the climb ahead of me will be. I'm stuck in a rut, and one that will only allow for A's. I have to increase my GPA, and I'll have to do so while taking very difficult classes. I'll have to tax my personl power alot, and pray I git'r done!

      Not going to lie, I felt like it's going to be too much to handle, making only A's. I've done it before though, but there's only one way...


    "Eye of The Tiger"....