SAPA STUDENT TRACK PROFESSIONAL TOPICS
PURPOSE: Preparing the graduate professional.
Leaving them with solid references and instructions for each subject.
FOCUS: Professional Related Topics
AUDIENCE: Physician Assistant students from IPAP (AD, NG, RESERVES) and civilian students.
ORGANIZATION: Society of Army Physician Assistants (SAPA) Annual CME Conference
LOCATION/PLACE: San Antonio, TX, Embassy Suites/Riverwalk, 125 E. Houston Street
TIME OF EVENT: Wednesday, 20 August 2025 (8 am – 5 pm)
8 AM------------LICENSE, CERTIFICATION & THE CREDENTIALING PROCESS
- Office, clinic, hospital, long term care facility, etc.
- State License
- NPI
- DEA (including MATES training)
- CSMD (controlled substance monitoring database) (security apps e.g. VIP)
- EDUCATION DOCUMENTS e.g. (Diploma, board certifications, specialty certifications)
- BLS, ACLS, PALS, ATLS, ABLS, etc.
- Third party payers credentialing (usually performed by employer staff)
9 AM-----------MEDICAL BILLING & CODING
- World Health Organization (WHO)
- Universal Medical Alphanumeric Codes
- Medical service visits
- Medical diagnosis code
- Medical procedure codes
- Medical equipment codes
- Miscellaneous codes
10 AM------------NEGOTIATING A CIVILIAN CONTRACT
- Looking for a job
- Choosing the correct discipline of practice
- Practice setting and type of patients
- Work and lifestyle balance
- Choosing a collaborating physician
- Work hours and on-call expectations
- Salary & benefits
- Benefits to include annual CME
- Stability and longevity
- Oversite and supervision
(add break)
11 AM------------MEDICAL READINESS
- Inventory your assets
- Managing your assets
- Managing your people (patients, staff, civilians, etc.)
- Timing your training
- Documenting your activities
- Evaluating asset status & competence
12 NOON--------LUNCH
1 PM------------PERSONAL & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AS A PA
- Professional organizations (state, national, specialty)
- Involvement in the above
- Continuing medical education
- Advanced degree, fellowships, residencies & other educational opportunities
- Change of pace or role as a PA (clinician/administration/educator)
- Mentors and confidants
- Precepting students
2PM-----------ESCAPING LITIGATION & NATIONAL PRACTITIONER DATA BANK
- Prevention and caution
- Incompetent, Negligence, and Poor Outcomes
- Usually, 1-3 years following a contact or incident
- Happy and Unhappy patients
- Relationship protection
- HIPAA Understanding & Compliance
3 PM-----------PRESERVING THE PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT AND THEIR FAMILY
- Involves the whole family
- Spouse support and involvement
- Main source of employment
- Part-time jobs, (moonlighting)
- Living expenses and debt accumulation
- Plan for delays, sidetracking and roadblocks
- Navigating educational debt
4 PM----------NAVIGATING THROUGH THE MILITARY AS A 65D (separate session for AD, Res, NG)
- Unit structure and your position as a PA
- Leader/Manager/Follower
- Commanders, raters & OERs
- Assignments & deployments
- Promotions & advancement
- Specialty training
- Taking care of troops
Curriculum: These topics were selected from various references and other AAPA constituent chapters that offer student tracts for their graduates.
