HIV roundtable. Professional perspectives.

As the HIV epidemic escalates, concern is mounting over the implications of infection among health care workers. Should all medical professionals be tested? Should supervisors and/or patients be notified if the results are positive? Should the infected PA continue to practice? What about performing surgery? Should he or she be considered impaired? And what about the long-term stress of working with HIV patients? Experts discuss the AAPA's latest recommendations, and share suggestions on prevention and patient care with the audience.

HIV roundtable. Strategies to enhance professional awareness and involvement. Part II.

Despite extensive public attention to the social and medical problems associated with HIV infection and AIDS, many clinicians remain largely uninvolved in public health and patient counseling programs aimed at preventing infection and getting patients into treatment. Suggestions to enhance professional involvement include improved schooling and continuing medical education; increased liaison and exchange of information among the various groups working with AIDS patients and at-risk populations; and programs to help clinicians confront their own feelings and concerns relating to AIDS.

HIV roundtable. Strategies to enhance professional awareness and involvement, Part I.

Despite extensive public attention to the social and medical problems associated with HIV infection and AIDS, many clinicians remain largely uninvolved in public health and patient counseling programs aimed at preventing infection and getting patients into treatment. Suggestions to enhance professional involvement include improved schooling and continuing medical education; increased liaison and exchange of information among the various groups working with AIDS patients and at-risk populations; and programs to help clinicians confront their own feelings and concerns relating to AIDS.

Dealing with the impaired supervisor.

As professional impairment issues have gained increasing recognition, a multitude of resources have been established for dealing with them. The most common source of impairment is chemical dependence-especially involving alcohol. The PA working with an impaired supervisor should understand the disease process associated with chemical dependence, come to terms with his or her own personal views on impairment, and seek support from colleagues. Every state has some form of physician impairment mechanism. With increasing availability of support systems, the prospects are good for successful rehabilitation of impaired professionals.

PA impairment due to HIV infection. Part II: Building a professional support network. Forum.

Several members of the AAPA's Lesbian and Gay Physician Assistants Caucus who participated in the roundtable PAs and HIV-Antibody Testing: The Need for Guidelines When the Practitioner Is at Risk (1989;13[5]:146-158) met with members of the 12-Step/Caduceus Caucus to begin developing a cooperative effort to assist PAs who test positive for antibodies to the human immunodeficiency virus, and to explore other HIV-associated impairment issues. Part II focuses on concerns of the provider who is HIV-antibody positive as well as ways PA groups can cooperate to raise the profession's conciousness further and recommend guidelines and policy.

The chemically dependent PA: role models for recovery.

The problem of substance abuse and chemical dependency among physician assistants first became evident in the late 1970s. Since then, the profession has taken significant steps to implement impaired provider programs, at both the constituent chapter level and the national level. Increased awareness of these programs--along with a concerted effort to debunk the myths and stereotypes associated with those who abuse chemicals or become dependent--should encourage more PAs who need assistance to seek treatment. Six recovering PAs share their personal experiences in the hope that they can inspire others in the profession who may need help with an addiction problem.