Commentary and Observations from
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Welcome to PCE's The Exchange—Stay Current on Issues That Matter Most to You and Your NP/PA Colleagues
PCE is excited to announce the launch of The Exchange, a collection of short commentaries from your NP/PA colleagues on a broad range of topics relevant to your practice. The Exchange will bring you reflections on trends in medicine, observations about new treatments and guidelines, and advice related to career decisions and practicing in today's changing healthcare environment.
Kidney Function and Hypertension in Heart Failure: They Go Hand in Hand
Posted By: 
Daniel Thibodeau, MHP, PA-C
May 11, 2021
We all have been educated numerous times about the need to control hypertension in all patients with that diagnosis. This is particularly in patients with heart failure (HF), where kidney function plays an important role in how well we can control blood pressure. Recently, a causal mediation analysis (using estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] as the mediator) of the ALLHAT (Antihypertensive and Lipid-Lowering Treatment to Lower Heart Attack) trial data was performed to look at the re... Continue Reading
Filed under: Cardiometabolic
Sacubitril/Valsartan and Heart Failure: Improvement of Health Status
Posted By: Daniel Thibodeau, MHP, PA-C
May 07, 2021
For the last few years, we have seen a number of continuing education sessions and articles related to advances in the treatment of heart failure (HF). One o... Continue Reading
Filed under: Cardiometabolic
Nurses Week 2021: May 6 - May 12
Posted By: 
Debra A. Danforth, DNP, APRN
May 04, 2021
I can't believe a year has gone by since I wrote about the 2020 Nurses Week theme. This year, the American Nurses Association (ANA) joined with the World Hea... Continue Reading
Filed under: NPs & PAs, Practice Management/Career
Should We Be Screening all Patients Over 50 for Age-Related Macular Degeneration?
Posted By: 
Mary Knudtson, DNSc, NP, FAAN
April 30, 2021
A growing public health issue for older adults is impaired sight. In fact, in 2011, 12% of US adults aged 65 to 74 years reported trouble with their vision,... Continue Reading
Filed under: Miscellaneous, Preventive Medicine
New in April: Open Notes Law Goes Into Effect
Posted By: Mary Knudtson, DNSc, NP, FAAN
April 27, 2021
The 21st Century Cures Act, passed by Congress in 2016, has gone into effect in April 2021. This gives patients the right to immediate electronic access to t... Continue Reading
Filed under: Health Policy and Trends, Practice Management/Career
COVID-19 Infection: Matters of the Heart
Posted By: 
Ylenia A. Quiaoit, DNP, ACNP-BC
April 20, 2021
Though the respiratory tract is the main target of COVID-19, its potential impact on the cardiovascular (CV) system is a very serious matter, portending a hi... Continue Reading
Filed under: Cardiometabolic, Infectious Diseases
Diagnosis and Management of Anemia and Iron Deficiency in Heart Failure
Posted By: Ylenia A. Quiaoit, DNP, ACNP-BC
April 16, 2021
The American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) heart failure (HF) guidelines recommend that routine baseline assessment for all pati... Continue Reading
Filed under: Cardiometabolic
Anemia, Iron Deficiency, and Heart Failure: What Clinicians Need to Know
Posted By: Ylenia A. Quiaoit, DNP, ACNP-BC
April 13, 2021
Anemia and iron deficiency are common and important comorbid conditions in patients with heart failure (HF). These conditions are mediators of poor clinical... Continue Reading
Filed under: Cardiometabolic
Identification and Management of Chronic Rhinosinusitis
Posted By: 
Amanda Michaud, MMS, PA-C
April 09, 2021
Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) has an estimated prevalence of up to 5% of the population. By definition, CRS is a chronic inflammatory condition of the paranas... Continue Reading
Filed under: Allergy/Immunology
Contact Dermatitis Diagnosis and Management: When to Refer for Patch Testing
Posted By: Amanda Michaud, MMS, PA-C
April 06, 2021
Contact dermatitis (CD) is a relatively common inflammatory skin condition, grouped with occupational skin disease. CD usually presents with erythematous and... Continue Reading
Filed under: Allergy/Immunology