Welcome to Montana Academy of Physician Assistants Website

2012 Dues

Renew your membership today.  Thank you for your continued support.

Gift Certificates

MTAPA will send you a gift certificate if you can recruit three new members.  Be sure to ask your colleagues to join MTAPA this month.  The online application includes a
"Referral by" question. 

Website Update

Both the colors and the pictures in the website banner above will be changing in early Febuary, so be looking for that change.  The new pictures will include scenic Montana landscapes, and PAs working in both primary care and surgical specialties.

Select Proposed Revisions to the Bylaws to review.

MT Board of Medical Examiners Meeting Helena, MT

Summary of relevant issues for MT PAs on November 18, 2011 

1.   Within the first quarter of 2012 the Prescription Drug Registry program will be on board. This  program will monitor prescribing of controlled substances.  Ron Klein, , Director of State Board of Pharmacy, reported at the BOME meeting that the Board of Pharmacy has received a federal grant for $400,000 to help defray costs for this new program. In addition, a $15 fee per prescriber in MT will be assessed to defray costs. A prescription drug registry is a database of schedule II-V drugs filled in Montana that prescribers can reference when writing or filling prescriptions to verify their patients’ medication history. The Board of Pharmacy is charged with the creation and maintenance of the registry

2.   The newly hired Medical Director to the BOME, Dr. Harry Sibold introduced himself, and described his recent accomplishments/duties since starting 10/15/11.

3.   Ron Handlos, a MT PA for 40 years, currently practicing in Philipsburg, presented the new Montana Mid-Level Postgraduate Rural Emergency Program, scheduled to start in 2012. The following is excerpted from the written material presented to the BOME.

The program is a clinical residency designed to help a new graduate PA or an experienced PA become familiar and proficient in some of the essential core skills involved in the practice of Emergency Medicine. The program consists of 1000 hours, or approximately 6 months of one-on-one preceptorship with an experienced emergency room physician. The program content was developed in conjunction with reviews from practicing emergency physicians, practicing emergency PA s, the University of Washington PA (MEDEX) Program, and has been endorsed by the Montana Board of Medical Examiners. The goal of the program is to expose the PA to most of the common procedures and interventions involved in the care and stabilization of emergency medical patients. Some of these procedures are rarely encountered, however, during the residency program, the proper techniques and approach will be reviewed with the PA, and the PA will be required to demonstrate proficiency with the procedure in vivo or in an in vitro setting. In this regard, the PA must also show a comprehensive grasp and successfully complete course in ACLS, PALS, and ATLS. The residency SHOULD NOT be considered proof of expertise as an emergency provider. Each hospital should still credential emergency room providers by measures outlined by their individual medical staff credentialing committees and departments. The completion of the residency SHOULD provide the necessary skills required of the emergency medical provider to treat the sick and injured emergency patient.

Ron Handlos has been working for 2 years to organize this PA rural emergency postgraduate program, and several rural hospitals have been very supportive. A grant has been received to help defray costs of the program for 2 years. Ron stated that more than 300 PA s have already expressed interest in this program. For the first 2 to 3 years, only MT PA s will be able to apply. The University of Washington will provide the certification for this program.  Montana hospitals who will be involved in this residency program include Community Medical Center in Missoula, St. Luke's Community Healthcare Network in Ronan, Clark Fork Valley Hospital in Plains, and Barrett Hospital in Dillon. The selection committee will include Ron Handlos, Dr. Greg Moore, who works in Dillon, local ER physicians, and medical staff affiliated with the University of Washington. The first 2 students will be selected in 2012, with a maximum in the future of 8 students per 6-month program. All training and lectures will be from physicians, Ron Handlos, who has had extensive emergency experience in rural setting, and from University of Washington medical staff.

When asked if the Rocky Mountain PA Program was contacted, Ron stated that he has had ongoing and extended discussions with Rocky staff for 2 years, and there has been stiff resistance by the Rocky program staff to participate in this rural emergency PA program.

Ron provided his email address rhandlos@gcmrdcenter.org or rkh_pac_48@yahoo.com, and phone numbers cell 861-5593,  home 859-5593, or work 859-3271. Ron also provided the BOME an extensive list of specific skills needed to show proficiency in to complete this programRule Changes for Montana PA's

Rule Changes for MTAPA PAs

Attached is the Montana Board of Medical Examiners (BOME) draft of the outcome of the Oct 7th BOME meeting where the PA proposed rule changes were discussed and voted upon. Details of the BOME hearing.

MTAPA Election Results

MTAPA would like to welcome Treasurer Tyler Seick and Delegate to AAPA Matt Zemacke. MTAPA Board Members. We still need to fill MTAPA committee positions and would welcome any volunteers. Please contact the board to express your interest , or get more information. info@mtapa.com

2012 CME Conference News

MTAPA's 22nd Annual CME Conference will be held in Bozeman, August 1-3, 2012.   Please plan on joining us for three full days of excellent education.   

The 2011 conference was in Missoula and was a success.  We appreciated the attendance of MTAPA members and non-members, including those from out of state.  Attendee evaluations were very positive regarding both the high quality content and speaker excellence.  Membership

For Membership Application and Renewal, click here

MTAPA Mission and Goals

The Montana Academy of Physician Assistants (MTAPA) was founded in 1978, and is the professional organization representing physician assistants within our state.  MTAPA is a nonprofit organization and is the official state chapter of the American Academy of Physician Assistants.  Committed to serving the PA community, MTAPA promotes the delivery of high quality, cost-effective health care, while striving to promote the professional growth of Montana PAs.  Every year MTAPA strives to improve its annual continuing medical education (CME) conference.  Additionally MTAPA lobbies on legislative matters and has a Liaison to the Board of Medical Examiners.  MTAPA also promotes the profession through the education of professionals and the general public.  Membership is open to physician assistants, PA students, supervising physicians and other advocates of the profession.  Membership applications and renewals are available on-line, or can be downloaded, printed and mailed to our office.

MTAPA's Home Office

MTAPA's administrative office is now located in Helena, within the office of the Montana Medical Association.  Please send all correspondence to our new address:

MTAPA
2021 11th Avenue
Suite 1
Helena, MT 59601

Membership

Join Online Today

Renew Your Membership

Edit Your Profile