January 2022 Pulse: What WAPA is Doing for You

Happy New Year WAPA Members! Although the beginning of 2022 is still feeling like a repeat of 2020 and 2021, there have been signs of progress. WAPA wrapped up 2021 with a successful hybrid Fall Conference. Approximately 200 PAs and healthcare partners attended virtually or in person at the American Club in Kohler. The CME Committee, under the leadership of Amy Parins and Alissa DeVos, provided 20 hours of quality CME ranging from a thought-provoking lecture on Antiracism in Medicine by Dr. Dispeh Navsaria to a Wilderness Medicine Workshop in addition to enduring clinical pearls material to be viewed throughout the year.

As we look forward, 2022 will mark the implementation of Act 23 modernizing Wisconsin PA legislation. In 2021, we saw Wisconsin appoint its first PA Board. This year the board will start to create rules to support the enactment of Act 23. As the PA board continues its due diligence, WAPA will be helping communicate the rules and support PAs and employers in adoption and adherence. All PA board hearings are public record and I invite all PAs to follow their progress.

I personally am excited for 2022 in WAPA. The WAPA Board has approved three priorities:

Prepare Wisconsin PAs for Act 23 Implementation
Reinvigorate the APP/APC Leadership Coalition to support and promote local PA leadership development
Finalize policy and procedure revisions to reflect new committee and member service orientated commitments

The committees have been hard at work updating their charters and assessing current processes in hopes of creating more synergy and communication to our members. These are exciting times at WAPA especially as we gear up for another election season. As always, you can connect with WAPA in five ways:

Follow WAPA on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram for real-time updates.
Donate to the WAPA legacy fund to support future PA scholarship winners or the WAPA PAC fund to support future legislative efforts on behalf of Wisconsin PAs.
Become a committee volunteer or Co-chair. CME, Legislative, Communication, Legacy, and Financial committees are excited to welcome new members or those interested in leadership opportunities.
Nominate yourself for an elected position in WAPA. Elections are now open.
Save the date and register to attend WAPA’s Spring conference in April 6-8, 2022 in Madison Wisconsin. Check out the website for more details.

I hope you are as excited about 2022 and the direction WAPA is heading as I am.

Jamie Silkey, WAPA President

Bridging the Gap in Patient Care, Leadership and Education

You survived the hustle and bustle of the holidays, helped ring in the new year, now it's time to think spring!

We are honored to announce the WAPA 2022 Spring Conference - April 6-8 at the Concourse Hotel & Governor's Club in Madison, WI.

This year’s conference theme is “Bridging the Gap in patient care, leadership and education.” Please join clinicians from all across the state of Wisconsin, working in various specialties, as they engage in 3 fun-filled days of medical content covering a plethora of inpatient and outpatient medical topics, as well as talks regarding medical leadership and professional development beyond the traditional clinical role.

Additionally, we will hold an in-person ultrasound workshop regarding the EFAST exam and its use in a trauma assessment. The full program is available online now - check it out!

Ultrasound Workshop

Calling all student volunteers! Be standardized patients for the Ultrasound workshop - Friday, April 8th, starting at 7:30 AM. Students will be organized into groups and their "modeling time" will vary. They will be able to attend educational sessions on Friday, when not engaged in the ultrasound session.

Session Registration: $300 (separate registration/fee from conference)
Presenters: Kyle Burkheimer, PA-C, Jimmy Gruenwald, PA-C, Gary Bhagat, MD, Amie Billstrom, PA-C
Date/Time: Friday, April 8 @ 7:30 AM
Description: This workshop is geared towards PAs who are wanting to learn more about trauma assessment and the EFAST exam. This is particularly important for those who have recently been state mandated to obtain ATLS certification, as the EFAST exam has now been incorporated in the primary assessment of a trauma patient as a bedside diagnostic modality.

This session will be held in small groups, with expert clinical sonographers, putting the emphasis on hand-on scanning. Each participant that attends the workshop will receive a Certificate of Completion, indicating the number of quality-assured EFAST exams performed, to use towards credentialing purposes.

The ACT 23 (WisCARES) Update

Governor’s Appointments to PA Board Awaiting Senate Consideration

On September 21, Gov. Evers (D) announced the appointment of nine Wisconsinites to the new Physician Assistant Affiliated Credentialing Board, which will replace the Council on Physician Assistants. The individuals chosen by the governor are subject to Senate confirmation. The new board has met twice to begin its initial rulemaking process related to the licensure, practice, and discipline of PAs.

Overview of Administrative Rulemaking Process - Statement of Scope

Preparation of scope by agency staff.
DOA review.
Gubernatorial approval.
Publication in Administrative Register.
Preliminary hearing, if held.
Approval by agency head.

See Entire Rulemaking Process Flowchart Here

Submit Your Abstract to the WAPA Spring Conference

PAs and other WAPA members are invited to submit their abstracts for a peer-reviewed poster session at the Spring CME Conference, April 6-8. Submissions are accepted in any of the following categories:

Case study: a clinical case report [view example of poster]
Original research: clinical, educational or scientific research on a topic that is relevant to PA practice or education [view example of abstract ] [view example of poste r]
Evidence-based literature review: an evidence-based review of the literature on a topic or clinical question relevant to PA practice
Educational or professional innovation: description of an innovation in PA practice or education [view example of abstract] [view example of poster]
Community outreach: description of a service project led by PAs [view example of abstract] [view example of poster]

Submission is now open and closes at midnight on Monday, February 21, 2022. Posters and selected oral presentations will take place on Thursday, April 7 from 5-6pm.

Download/review WAPA poster session guidelines.