Publications by authors named "Rachel Dewitt"

Driven by the convergence of the exponential growth of medical knowledge and the dated medical education delivery system, educators in physician assistant (PA) programs are striving to create teaching practices that actively engage students, improve knowledge retention, and prepare students for a career that requires lifelong learning and reflection. The emphasis on professor-directed teaching and learning activities is shifting toward a more learner-centered approach. To incorporate appropriate active learning exercises into the PA classroom, instructors must plan, design, and execute pedagogically sound practices.

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Changing the source of the water supply to save money had the unintended consequence of exposing residents of Flint, Mich., to elevated lead levels in their drinking water. A study done at Flint's Hurley Children's Hospital demonstrated that the incidence of elevated blood lead levels of children living in the affected area nearly doubled after the change in the water source.

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Primary care providers often are responsible for the initial evaluation and management plan of young patients with mild traumatic brain injury (mild TBI, also called concussion), and need to be familiar with new protocols and how to incorporate them into a patient's treatment plan. This article describes a patient who suffered a mild TBI and returned to sports too early, and discusses the appropriate protocols for managing concussion in children.

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This qualitative study explored the clinical experiences of students in an accelerated physician assistant (PA) program. The participants were either certified nursing assistants (CNAs) or emergency medical technicians-basic (EMTs-B). The study was designed to elicit (1) how the participants perceived their older patients and (2) how the participants' experiences might affect their own future communications, bedside manner, and clinical preparedness as PAs.

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Ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) are routinely used to monitor, assess, and prescribe aerobic exercise. Heart rate (HR) is another measure used to evaluate exercise intensity. Additionally, affective responses to aerobic exercise have been studied and seem to be influenced by the intensity of the exercise.

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