Clinical ladders: A potential solution for retaining and promoting PAs.

ABSTRACT: As the need for more healthcare providers increases, so does the need for leaders in the healthcare setting. Physician associates/assistants (PAs) are primed to step into these positions, given their key role in the clinical setting. Clinical ladder models are an established system for clinical, administrative, and academic advancement for healthcare providers. Although more research is needed, clinical ladders provide the opportunity for career advancement while helping to promote professional development and improve retention. Moreover, the opportunity for advancement via clinical ladders may help to prevent clinician burnout and turnover by providing more opportunities and career directions.

A Community-Academic Collaboration to Support Chronic Disease Self-Management among Individuals Living in Permanent Supportive Housing.

BACKGROUND: Individuals experiencing chronic homelessness with a chronic health condition may qualify for permanent supportive housing (PSH). Given limited PSH resources, it is important to identify priority programming with demonstrated effectiveness. OBJECTIVES: A community-academic partnership was formed to address the priority health needs of individuals living in PSH. METHODS: Community stakeholders identified diabetes self-management as a priority health need. Wisdom, Power, Control (WPC), an evidence-based diabetes self-management program, was piloted for seven weeks with diabetic (type 2) or prediabetic PSH residents. A survey was administered at baseline and program completion. HbA1c was assessed at baseline and 3-month follow-up. RESULTS: Those who completed the Program (N = 10), reported a significant increase in diabetes knowledge, self-efficacy and foot self-care. The average hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) of the participants significantly decreased from 8.86 to 6.88. CONCLUSIONS: Pilot data from this study provides an example of a community-academic partnership that improved the health of individuals in PSH through evidence-based programming.

Exploring Differences in the Lives and Well-Being of Sexual and Gender Minority Adults Experiencing Homelessness Relative to Their Cisgender Heterosexual Counterparts.

Purpose: To better understand the lives and experiences of sexual and gender minority (SGM) adults experiencing homelessness relative to their cisgender heterosexual (non-SGM) counterparts. Methods: A modified time-location sampling strategy was used to reach a diverse sample of individuals with experiences of homelessness. Interviewer or self-administered paper-based surveys were administered to participants on location. Results: SGM and non-SGM participants reported significant differences in the age at which they became homeless, their current housing, and experiences of violence over the past year. SGM participants reported poorer mental health than their non-SGM counterparts. Conclusion: SGM adults may be uniquely impacted by their experiences of homelessness.