Commentary and Observations from
the Medical Front Lines
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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.
Screening for Unhealthy Drug Use
Posted By: 
Ben Taylor, PA-C, PhD, DFAAPA
September 18, 2020
Despite all the knowledge and technology that we have these days, we still see a vast amount of patients who engage in unhealthy substance use (eg, alcohol, illicit drugs, tobacco) and think that there will be no health consequences. Even if the patient frequently presents to primary care, unhealthy alcohol and other drug use often goes unrecognized. Approaches to alleviate substance use problems include screening, brief interventions, and when appropriate, referral to an addiction treatment... Continue Reading
Filed under: Public Health, Substance Abuse
Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy
Posted By: Ben Taylor, PA-C, PhD, DFAAPA
September 15, 2020
I had a patient the other day who came in intoxicated and tried to "school" me on the benefits of alcohol. Yes, there are some potential heart-healthy benefi... Continue Reading
Filed under: Cardiometabolic, Substance Abuse
Climate Change and Health: Let’s Take a Stand to Save Lives!
Posted By: 
Mary Knudtson, DNSc, NP, FAAN
September 11, 2020
Both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) agree that climate change has a significant negative effect... Continue Reading
Filed under: Miscellaneous, Public Health
Protecting Patients From Unsafe Air Quality
Posted By: Mary Knudtson, DNSc, NP, FAAN
September 09, 2020
With all of the fires raging in California, many other areas far from them are experiencing poor air quality too. Poor air quality can have both long- and sh... Continue Reading
Filed under: Public Health, Pulmonary Medicine
The Basics of Diuretic Resistance in Heart Failure
Posted By: 
Ylenia A. Quiaoit, DNP, ACNP-BC
September 04, 2020
Increasing severity of congestion is the main reason patients with heart failure (HF) seek medical care. Extracellular fluid volume expansion is central to t... Continue Reading
Filed under: Cardiometabolic
Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction: An Overview
Posted By: Ylenia A. Quiaoit, DNP, ACNP-BC
September 01, 2020
Heart failure (HF) is a complex, disabling, and prevalent disease. According to the American Heart Assocation (AHA) Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics 2020... Continue Reading
Filed under: Cardiometabolic
Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia: Making the Diagnosis
Posted By: 
Veronica Richardson, MSN, ANP-BC, DCNP
August 28, 2020
For many providers, seeing "hair loss" as the chief complaint on a patient's chart can induce dread. Imagine how the patient feels if their clinician lacks... Continue Reading
Filed under: Dermatology
Pyoderma Gangrenosum
Posted By: Veronica Richardson, MSN, ANP-BC, DCNP
August 25, 2020
A patient presents to your clinic with a painful, rapidly expanding ulcer on a lower extremity. If pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) isn't on your differential, it s... Continue Reading
Filed under: Dermatology
Voting in the Midst of a Pandemic: What Are Some Options to Get People Registered to Vote?
Posted By: 
Susan M. Tiso, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC
August 21, 2020
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, US citizens who wanted to obtain a voter registration application could walk into any public library, post office, or Departm... Continue Reading
Filed under: Health Policy and Trends, Public Health
Recommending Isolation and Quarantine Timeframes for Coronavirus: Why Is There So Much Confusion?
Posted By: Susan M. Tiso, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC
August 18, 2020
I have been working in a drive-through coronavirus testing site since March; part of this entails calling patients with positive COVID-19 test results to dis... Continue Reading
Filed under: Health Policy and Trends, Infectious Diseases, Public Health