Legislative Update

By Samantha Danek, PA-C

Thanks to the support from MAPA members, 2021 has been a very successful year for Michigan PA advocates. Together, we have achieved many advancements for the PA profession in Michigan. Michigan continues to be the best state for PAs to practice!

The end of the year marks the halfway point for the legislative session so many of the introduced bills impacting PAs have not yet made it to the Governor's desk. With your help, 2022 will signal important practice improvements for Michigan PAs. In order for our bills to advance, PAs will need to meet with legislators in order to show them why making these changes is important to our patients and their constituents; and to the health of all Michiganders.  MAPA is organizing a ‘Capital Summit’ on March 23rd in Lansing.  The morning will be visiting legislators and then we have several CME talks in the afternoon followed by a reception in the evening for the Lansing Legislators.   So  Join us on Wednesday, March 23rd in Lansing for MAPA’s 2022 Michigan Capital Summit; registration will be open soon.

We have advanced  Senate Bill 191  to add PAs to the Mental Health Code. PAs, NPs and CNSs provide critically needed mental healthcare across Michigan yet they are not listed in the Mental Health Code. SB 191 passed the Senate unanimously. This bill is in the House Health Policy Committee Chaired by Representative Bronna Kahle who supported the bill last year. Early next year we will need your help to reach out to every State Representative requesting their support. Your efforts to contact your legislators will allow this bill to move forward to a vote in the House of Representatives. 

Senate Bill 759  to allow for Out-of-State PAs to prescribe non-controlled substances to their patients in Michigan was sent to the Governor this week. Canadian PAs were also included in this legislation. There is not a clear national model for across state line licensing so Michigan is leading the way. We are also working with the Federation of State Medical Boards to be among the first States to introduce legislation allowing for Michigan PA licenses to be valid in several other states.

House Bill 5615  will allow for PAs to sign death certificates. While Michigan PAs have long been able to pronounce death, only physicians have been able to sign death certificates. This has created a backlog for funeral homes as in many cases PAs are the primary provider for the patient and there have been long delays as funeral directors try to find qualified providers to sign the death certificate. Working with the Michigan Funeral Directors Association, MAPA is relieved to see this improvement in patient care regulations gaining momentum.

Other bills potentially impacting Michigan PAs include a state budget which funded hospitals at the highest level in history, a new law allowing for Nurse Anesthetists to practice without a supervising physician, a Senate bill to allow for NPs to practice without a supervising physician, a package of bills in the House aimed at fixing Michigan’s recent Auto No Fault changes, a Senate bill to streamline the provider prior authorization language, and a large package of House bills aimed at addressing patient costs and transparency. 

We need you! You are the best advocate for Michigan PAs in your community.

A New Grad’s Guide to Entering Professional Practice 

By Julia Burkhardt MS PA-C 

The current job market can make it a trying time to be entering professional practice as a new graduate of a Physician Assistant (PA) program. This article is meant to provide some clarity about the steps that it is imperative for you as a new grad to take while trying to gain your first position as a certified PA. Additionally, it will provide you with some hints to help get your resume past the initial step of being reviewed by the Human Resources professional at your desired employer and into the hands of those who actually make the hiring decision. 

You graduated, now what? 

Hopefully, you already have your mind set on your first “big kid” job. During your clinical rotations is a great time to make networking connections with other professionals that will help you find your place in the medical community. If you have been lucky enough to make some of those connections, you should send a cover letter along with an updated resume to these connections in order to show your interest in a position. They might introduce you to colleagues even if they are not in a position to hire . This step could get you significantly farther than surfing through listings on job sites like MAPA, Indeed or other job search engines. 

When should you get your license?

All positions will require you to have an active State of Michigan PA license to practice. One of the questions I most frequently get from students who are on the cusp of graduation is “Should I get a temporary license?” My answer depends on what your plans are after graduation. Do you plan to take a few months off to relax and recuperate after the rigorous deed that is PA school? If so, a temporary license might not be necessary. However, if your circumstances do not allow for some rest and relaxation and you are looking to jump right into the job market, it is highly recommended that you get a temporary license through the State of Michigan. There are a couple reasons why: 

1. If you plan to apply to jobs at larger health systems, many of those systems require you to have a license number before you can even successfully apply. 

2. It will speed up the credentialing process once you have proof that you have crushed the PANCE. 

How many different licenses and certifications do I have to apply for and what order should I apply for them? 

While the list of needs will vary from person to person and by what type of position you accept, here are the main necessities for most PAs: 

• Apply for a Temporary Michigan license (if applicable). 

• Apply for a National Provider Identifier (NPI number) through Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). This can be done online.

• Apply to take your PANCE through NCCPA. 

• Apply for a PA license through the State of Michigan after you pass your PANCE.

I would add the next steps once you have received your state license if your employer requires you to have your DEA number. It might be possible to have your employer cover most, if not all, of the expenses associated with your DEA number so make sure to check with them prior to paying for it out of pocket. 

• Apply for a State of Michigan Controlled Substance License (CSL).

• Apply for your DEA License through the US Department of Justice. 

Other items that you might want to ensure are active and valid would include your BLS certification along with ACLS or other certifications that are job specific. 

There are so many qualified PAs applying for these positions. How do I stand out from the crowd? 

First and foremost, be your authentic self to let your passion for medicine and the specific position shine through. This will put you far ahead of many candidates. Second, make sure to use any personal connection to that health system or employer. This can really make or break your application process. It can be the difference between getting an interview and getting sorted into the large pile of rejected resumes. 

Another tip that I have received from resume writers and headhunters is to make sure to include some of the key terms or words that are present in the recruitment ad. For instance, if it says they are looking for someone who can “complete evaluations and document in electronic medical record” in your cover letter make sure to talk about how as a PA student you have worked on a number of electronic medical records. By including many key terms like this it will enable the automated search program to select your resume as being compatible with the qualifications in the job listing. 

I got an interview, now what?

You have prepared for this moment for the last few years. Every tough day on your clinical rotations and each brutal OSCE or Clin Med exam has made you into the durable and employable person you are today. Do not underestimate what you bring to the table. Are you the most experienced person applying for the position? Most likely not. But you have passion and drive, and let's face it, everyone has to start somewhere. 

During your interview make sure that you talk about how as a new graduate you are still malleable and in the “learning” mode which enables you to pick up material quickly and makes you eager to gain the skills required to be successful in the position. Furthermore, make sure that they realize what outside talents or experiences you bring to the table that make you a well rounded candidate and individual. 

To follow up or not to follow up, that is the question? 

After an interview it may seem like forever before you hear anything. This is in part due to the fact that most large hospital systems are required to interview all qualified candidates prior to moving onto the next step. Immediately following your interview it is nice to send a brief “Thank You” note stressing what you were impressed by in the interview and why you think you would be a good fit for the position. This can be electronic or be sent via snail mail, whichever you feel more comfortable with. 

After that, sit tight and wait for at least a few weeks before reaching out about the progress of the hiring process. The exception to this rule is if you are presented with another offer but desire the position that is still in process more. At that point, it would be ok to send another email to touch base and let them know you are on deadline due to the other position. 

This is by no means a perfect guide to the job market which is very competitive for PAs in Michigan. I hope that it gives you a jumping off point that allows you to prepare yourself for your first position. Good luck, and remember, being a member of MAPA is a great addition to your resume.

Association Acumen is excited to begin a relationship, effective August 1st, with all of you to assist MAPA’s board of directors in the execution of its mission and vision.  Association Acumen is an award-winning, accredited full-service association management company headquartered in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, providing staff support for state, national and international professional associations.

Michelle Haider, CMP is the new Association Director and is excited to be an extension of the Executive Director and resource for innovative CME offerings, how and what is communicated, educational delivery, and member engagement.  

Michelle joined Association Acumen in 2021 as the relationship with MAPA started.  As an Executive Director at Acumen, her responsibilities include executing meetings and events, leading boards, implementing strategic plans, committee management, as well as managing communication & marketing plans and budgets.

Prior to joining the team at Acumen, Michelle was the Executive Director of both the Wauwatosa and Hartland, Wisconsin Business Districts.  Michelle’s varied roles have included operations, event management, membership, marketing and communication.  Michelle is a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) and has a Bachelor’s of Letters and Science in Communications from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. She is an active member of Wisconsin Society of Association Executives, American Society of Association Executives, and Events Industry Council. 

Please reach out with any questions you may have to mapa@michiganpa.org or call 877-YES MAPA.

We look forward to working with you!

Are you a PA advocacy rockstar? 

Michigan Academy of PAs (MAPA) would like to invite current PA students to enter an essay contest for an opportunity to advocate for our profession during the upcoming MAPA Capital Summit in Lansing on March 23rd. We are looking for PA students who are passionate about PA advocacy and legislative endeavors. 

The MAPA Capital Summit is an opportunity to network with PA advocacy veterans and become actively involved in the legislative advocacy process that makes Michigan one of the best states for PAs to practice medicine nationwide. Selected PA students will attend as an integral part of the MAPA advocacy team. They will be given the opportunity to meet with key State Senators and Representatives in the morning, attend continuing medical education presentations regarding policy and practice issues in the afternoon, and then finish out the day with the MAPA leadership reception honoring legislators in the evening. If this sounds like you please submit an essay to be considered. 

Some further details regarding eligibility for this opportunity: 

• Up to two students per accredited PA program in the state of Michigan will be selected from essay submissions 

• Candidates must be a student enrolled into their program as of March 23, 2022

• Active MAPA student membership 

• All candidates must complete the submission form including an essay of a maximum of 500 words answering the question “What does PA professional advocacy mean to you?”

All submissions are due by Tuesday, February 15, 2022. 

MAPA Capital Summit PA Student Essay Contest Form

By Samantha Danek, PA-C

Thanks to the support from MAPA members, 2021 has been a very successful year for Michigan PA advocates. Together, we have achieved many advancements for the PA profession in Michigan. Michigan continues to be the best state for PAs to practice!

The end of the year marks the halfway point for the legislative session so many of the introduced bills impacting PAs have not yet made it to the Governor's desk. With your help, 2022 will signal important practice improvements for Michigan PAs. In order for our bills to advance, PAs will need to meet with legislators in order to show them why making these changes is important to our patients and their constituents; and to the health of all Michiganders.  MAPA is organizing a ‘Capital Summit’ on March 23rd in Lansing.  The morning will be visiting legislators and then we have several CME talks in the afternoon followed by a reception in the evening for the Lansing Legislators.   So  Join us on Wednesday, March 23rd in Lansing for MAPA’s 2022 Michigan Capital Summit; registration will be open soon.

We have advanced Senate Bill 191 to add PAs to the Mental Health Code. PAs, NPs and CNSs provide critically needed mental healthcare across Michigan yet they are not listed in the Mental Health Code. SB 191 passed the Senate unanimously. This bill is in the House Health Policy Committee Chaired by Representative Bronna Kahle who supported the bill last year. Early next year we will need your help to reach out to every State Representative requesting their support. Your efforts to contact your legislators will allow this bill to move forward to a vote in the House of Representatives. 

Senate Bill 759 to allow for Out-of-State PAs to prescribe non-controlled substances to their patients in Michigan was sent to the Governor this week. Canadian PAs were also included in this legislation. There is not a clear national model for across state line licensing so Michigan is leading the way. We are also working with the Federation of State Medical Boards to be among the first States to introduce legislation allowing for Michigan PA licenses to be valid in several other states.

House Bill 5615 will allow for PAs to sign death certificates. While Michigan PAs have long been able to pronounce death, only physicians have been able to sign death certificates. This has created a backlog for funeral homes as in many cases PAs are the primary provider for the patient and there have been long delays as funeral directors try to find qualified providers to sign the death certificate. Working with the Michigan Funeral Directors Association, MAPA is relieved to see this improvement in patient care regulations gaining momentum.

Other bills potentially impacting Michigan PAs include a state budget which funded hospitals at the highest level in history, a new law allowing for Nurse Anesthetists to practice without a supervising physician, a Senate bill to allow for NPs to practice without a supervising physician, a package of bills in the House aimed at fixing Michigan’s recent Auto No Fault changes, a Senate bill to streamline the provider prior authorization language, and a large package of House bills aimed at addressing patient costs and transparency. 

We need you! You are the best advocate for Michigan PAs in your community. Please email me at samantha.r.danek@gmail.com or call me at 734.395.7095 to join our efforts. If you don’t have time, contribute to the PAs of Michigan PAC .  MAPA’s membership dues cannot be directed towards the PAC.  100% of PAC donations are contributed to keep Michigan Senators and Representatives, who support PAs, in office.

MAPA’s Executive Director

MAPA Executive Director Thadd Gormas has served Michigan PAs since 2017.  He came from the Michigan Senate as a Chief of Staff where he was instrumental in drafting Michigan PA law changes since 2008. A 20-year veteran in Michigan’s healthcare industry and public affairs, Thadd is known as a trusted source by healthcare thought leaders throughout Michigan.

Thadd’s executive leadership includes managing MAPA’s Executive Board activities and other volunteer committees including Legislative, Reimbursement, Public Relations and Education, and the PAs of Michigan Political Action Committee (PAM PAC). He provides strategic planning for our academy including non-dues revenue with support from our Board of Directors and association management partner Association Acumen. 

Thadd serves as the main public contact and spokesperson for MAPA, and as our liaison to Michigan healthcare industry associations, state agencies, the Michigan Legislature and the Governor’s office. Thadd is MAPA’s registered lobbyist in Lansing. He and his wife, Michelle Gormas, PA-C have been married for almost 15 years and are the parents of two children. They live in the Lansing area where Michelle owns a family medicine practice. 

Please reach out to discuss PA practice management, reimbursement, laws and regulations or other MAPA questions to Gormas@MichiganPA.org or call 517.898.4836. 

What is Professional Responsibility? 

Professional responsibility is a vague term and can mean many different things to many different people. I think every PA school should have a class focused on our professional responsibilities of PAs after graduation.  In short, we as professionals should support our profession in a manner that ensures that the profession is in better shape when we leave it, than when we started practicing.

So, what do we need to do to make sure the PA profession is stronger when we retire than when we started?  

1. Join your Michigan and National Organizations

Let’s be honest, most of us do not have any extra time after working a full day and caring for our families to volunteer or advocate for our profession.  Paying your annual MAPA and AAPA dues enable these organizations to advocate for PAs and show lawmakers and health administrators that PAs care about their profession and advocate for positive change. So, at a minimum, by paying our annual dues, we employ others to do it for us.

2. Precept Students or volunteer at local PA school

My best rotations as a student were with PA preceptors一 unfortunately most of my rotations had non-PA preceptors.  

We need more PAs to precept students. No one else is better equipped to educate the next generation of our profession.  Try and precept at least 1 student per year. Additionally, offer to volunteer at your local PA school一 they always need proctors, guest lecturers, and extra help teaching.

3. Advocate for your Profession

This one is a little tricky and vague, but isn’t as tough as you think.  Obviously, you should contact your State Senator and Representative as directed by your state organization to support legislative changes, but there is so much more you can do.  

Be vocal and proud of your profession.  Advocate for your profession in the workplace.  Work with your HR department to eliminate outdated work rules.  Talk at local career days.  Educate anyone and everyone about what a PA is and what a PA can do for them.

4. Practice Good Medicine

This one is obvious and we all try to do it to the best of our ability.  Do no harm, while doing the most good is part of our oath.  How we carry ourselves in and out of clinical practice represents our entire profession.

So, back to item #1 一 Making sure your membership is current is as easy as going to the MAPA website.  Imagine what we could accomplish with your help.   

Sincerely,

Jeffery J. Cornell PA-C

MAPA Membership Chair

Reimbursement Update

By: Jim Kilmark, PA-C

The Michigan Academy of Physician Assistants (MAPA) supports Michigan PA reimbursement by having a long-standing Reimbursement committee dedicated to tackling issues that affect the patient care PAs of Michigan provide. Other state chapters do not provide this support. We are fortunate to have developed a working relationship with Michigan commercial, medicare advantage and medicaid payers who provide reimbursement for services provided by PAs. 

We are working to ensure your patient care is reimbursed by Michigan payers like Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBS), Blue Care Network, Priority Health, McLaren Health Plan, Physician Health Plan (PHP) and others BUT we need your help.

The best way for us to help is to understand how payer policies are negatively impacting your patients. Our Executive Director Thadd Gormas and MAPA’s Reimbursement Committee have the relationships, knowledge and understanding to address even complex payer policies which negatively impact you and your patients. We are almost always successful.

Most if not all other Michigan payers credential PAs as Primary Care Providers. This allows for patients to be seen annually without any copay and ensures continuity of care. Patient costs and continuity of care remain among the most important factors impacting patient health outcomes and associated cost drivers like emergency room visits.

As an example of how MAPA works for the PAs of Michigan, it was brought to our attention earlier this year that Lansing-based payer PHP didn’t allow for PAs to be credentialed as Primary Care Providers (PCPs). MAPA was notified and our Executive Director immediately reached out to PHP. By the following Monday, PHP updated their policy to allow for PAs to be credentialed as PCPs. This change was critically important because PHP is one of the fastest growing Michigan health plans. 

Blue Care Network (BCN), a BCBS product, continues to prevent PAs from being credentialed as PCPs. For years BCN has allowed for NPs to be PCPs. Help BCN understand the harm they are causing your patients. Do you have a patient story to share?

MAPA is meeting with the BCBS medical directors this spring. Are you a family medicine PA willing to share your story re BCN? Are your patients being negatively impacted by this or other PA BCBS policies? If so, please email us at MAPA@MichiganPA.org or call us at 877.YES.MAPA and leave contact information and we will reach out to you at your earliest convenience.  

The State of Mental Healthcare for PAs in Michigan

By: Mike White PA-C

Over the past decade MAPA has made tremendous strides in advancing the role of PAs in healthcare in the state of Michigan.  Since achieving full practice authority in 2017, PAs in Michigan practice in one of the best environments in the nation:

1. You can own the practice that you work in.

2. No restrictive ratios limit how many PAs a physician can hire

3. PAs are independent prescribers with their own controlled substance license. 

4. Co-Signatures are NOT required for Michigan PAs.

5. PAs are able to practice autonomously without an onsite or electronic supervisor within a practice agreement.

6. Participating physicians with PAs on their team incur no malpractice liability for patients they are not consulted onThere is no malpractice liability for the physician with whom you are in a practice agreement if the physician has not seen or been consulted for that patient’s care. 

As we look to the future, there are still barriers that MAPA needs to overcome.  Many PAs are concerned about the Nurse Practitioner independence legislation currently before the legislature;  MAPA is diligently monitoring the progress of this bill一It is paramount that PAs understand that as this process evolves, PAs in Michigan are in a position of strength having already achieved full practice authority. 

Mental health care providers and services are needed everywhere. This dire need is especially felt in the rural areas of our state.  MAPA is currently working to eliminate barriers currently limiting PAs ability to meet these patient’s needs. With the help of MAPA’s legislative and advocacy team, Senate Bill (SB) 191 passed in the State Senate and it is currently before the Health Policy Committee in the House of Representatives.   If MAPA can pass this legislation this year, PAs will be defined as professionals in our state’s Mental Health Code.  

This legislation will allow PAs to:

1. Sign initial clinical certificates for temporary emergency holds and transfers to the care of a psychiatrists or  psychiatric facilities.

2. Manage safety restraints for agitated patients that put themselves or staff in danger. The Michigan Public Health Code already allows for PAs to manage restraints in every setting.

Here at UP Health System in Marquette, we are fortunate to have a psychiatric unit to meet our patient’s mental health needs here in the UP.  In my time at the hospital, I have worked with Nicole Perrier PA-C, who has been with us for the last 9 years. I was also one of her clinical preceptors when she was a student.  I was fortunate to have a conversation with her about her experiences in mental healthcare that I would like to share with you. 

1. Where did you attend PA school? Where do you work and how long have you been at your current position?

• I attended Central Michigan University’s PA program. 

• I work at UP Health Systems-Marquette (formerly known as Marquette General Hospital), in my position for over 9 years.

2. What first attracted you to practice in psychiatric medicine?

• To be honest, I kind of fell into psychiatry.  Shortly after graduating from CMU, a PA position opened at the hospital, near where I live, in the psychiatry department.  I applied and received the job.  I was very fortunate to have a good experience during my clinical rotation with the same providers, which allowed me to feel comfortable working on a locked unit, which often can be intimidating.      

3.  Looking back at your career, what do you value and enjoy the most about your practice?

• I enjoy helping people stay safe and healthy.  I work hard to assist others to see positives in life by working through coping skills for stressors and feel rewarded when patients find this helpful.  I recently had a patient send me a card, telling me about the things they were working on at home, which we discussed at length during their hospitalization, and how well they had been feeling.  I like giving my patients handouts to further help with tools to use at home and find it rewarding when I hear they still look at them long after their hospitalization.   

4.  What has being a member of MAPA contributed to your career?  Do you consider it a professional duty to support your professional organization?

• MAPA is very proactive in supporting PAs of Michigan and they have been pivotal in gaining further resources and privileges to allow PAs to work to our full scope of practice.  I have colleagues in other areas of medicine that comment how they wish their associations provided additional support. I feel being a member of MAPA is a valuable tool as it’s difficult to keep informed on all the current changes in our medical profession and having MAPA keeping us updated is important.  

5.  What do you know about MAPA's current mental health bill that is in the state legislature?

• I am very happy that MAPA is trying to expand the definition of "mental health professional" to include physician assistants so we can provide better mental health services for patients in Michigan.  Including PAs in the Mental Health Code (MHC) to provide restraint orders on a psychiatric floor and the initial clinical certification for psychiatric hospitalization would greatly expedite the care a patient may need.     

6.  What obstacles to your practice have you faced in your current position?

• Unfortunately, there is a nationwide shortage of psychiatric providers (psychiatrists and APPs) and living in a smaller rural area, makes it difficult to recruit providers to practice in the Upper Peninsula. 

• Although PAs no longer require “physician supervision,” health care systems/offices still follow former models restricting PAs from utilizing their full training to provide the best care they can offer.  One of the most difficult obstacles is working under the “Incident to Billing” method, since PAs are not paid 100% for the services they provide.  By using this type of system, it confuses mental health patients who are being treated by a PA as their main provider, but are still required to be seen by a doctor.  I feel this diminishes the confidence patients have in PAs, making it appear as if we are not qualified to provide their complete care. 

• Another frustrating observation I have witnessed, which I believe stems from old practices, is when physician’s cosign documents making it appear as if the PA was their scribe/secretary or student and not actually providing the patient care.  

• An additional obstacle is when insurance companies, such as Blue Cross Blue Shield, require a psychiatrist to perform the psychiatric evaluation on admission thus restricting a PA, even with a certificate of added qualifications in psychiatry, from seeing the patient when they first arrive. Other insurance companies allow PAs to perform this initial assessment一greatly improving continuity of care and allowing the PA to see the patient every day of their hospitalization.  

7. How might a more PA friendly mental health code expand your ability to serve your patients?

• If PAs are defined as “Medical Health Professionals, it would allow us to provide additional care without the many restrictions currently in place.  Ideally it will allow PAs to provide psychiatric care in underserved areas to our full scope of practice.  This may also reduce the barriers and allow full continuity of care and eliminate billing/payment restrictions, which would create additional revenue for facilities, and could provide higher compensation to PAs for the services we are trained to offer.

President's Message

It is a great honor to serve this academy as MAPA president. My year as President-elect sure was an interesting one. This pandemic has left its imprint on all of us.  As we embark on yet another surge due to Omicron, many of us are pushed even further then we could have imagined.

The PA profession has excelled within this pandemic. Our skillset shone as PAs stepped into a vast variety of roles. We are the only profession trained to jump into any specialty. When the world called, we answered. Wherever patients needed us, we stepped in. PAs from around the state jumped into this scary, vast and unknown practice climate to shine, to make it clear that intelligence prevails, and to ensure that beast called Covid would not defeat us. This came at a cost, many sacrificed more than time, and our personal lives suffered. Heartbreakingly, we lost some of our own along the way, PAs who chose to devote their lives to medicine, left us too soon. 

One thing is for certain, I am proud to be a PA and  impressed by my PA colleagues. We are moving with great momentum as we push the profession forward. As we welcome new schools, we continue to grow in numbers. Numbers that can amplify our proactive efforts to have the optimal PA practice climate here in Michigan. There are almost exactly 7,000 Michigan PAs!

I am committed to this profession and to propelling each of us in this ever changing healthcare environment. The message I will continue to relay is that we need you. Every single PA should be asking “how can I help make Michigan the greatest state for PA practice?” 

Advocate for yourself and your colleagues. Stand with me to advance this profession forward, to show appreciation to those before us who created this leading practice environment, and see our vitality grow with numbers. Share your talent and skill, challenge barriers, and endorse membership of colleagues. Maintain legislative vigilance and we as a profession will continue to grow. The opportunities are endless.

Dr. Michelle Petropoulos DMSc, PA-C, DFAAPA President, Michigan Academy of PAs

Michelle Petropoulos currently works as a Production Health Medical Director for HBO. She spent many years as a Family and Emergency Medicine PA prior to working front-line Covid. She holds a Doctorate in Medical Science from Lynchburg University and attended PA school at the University of Detroit Mercy. She is the AAPA liaison to the American Osteopathic Society and served MAPA as the past Legislative and Government Affairs chair. She has also held positions as Chief Delegate to the AAPA House of Delegates, and served on MAPAs CME committee.

Announcing the

Grand Opening of the

MAPA Online Land's End Store

Visit your store today, click here

This activity is designated for maximum 150 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation and is for the period March 11, 2020 through June 30, 2020.

PAs must complete a survey for each week (Sunday through Saturday) they are requesting CME credits.  All forms will be reviewed by MAPA leadership and a certificates will be issued.  If there are any questions MAPA will reach out for clarification.

Acceptable categories of CME include:

• Participating in daily rounds
• Consulting professional sources for clinical updates and recommendations
• Training on a new procedure
• Developing care pathways or protocols for the care of patients with COVID-19 
• Identifying or establishing processes for testing
• Reviewing literature/institutional emails to provide synopsis for your department
• Determining how to deploy individuals to direct care and/or creating a surge plan within a department or health system
• Reviewing specialty society guidelines regarding COVID-19 management and/or PPE practices
• Educating groups about COVID-19 processes or procedures
• Other  ** (those that select "other" will be required to describe the activities participated in directly related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

AAPA Cancellation Notice