Managing your continuing medical education (CME) budget is a critical professional skill for physician assistants. Most employers provide an annual CME allowance ranging from $1,500 to $3,000. If this money is not spent by the end of the fiscal year, it is typically lost. To maximize the value of these funds, you must choose a program that provides both high-yield clinical education and a tangible return on your investment.
The PANRE Review Course at CME Review Courses is designed specifically for this purpose.
Course Logistics:
- Price: $399.99 (Course only)
- Access Duration: 30 months
- Deliverables: 100 hours of AAPA Category 1 Credit, 1,672 board-style review questions, and comprehensive coverage of the NCCPA Blueprint.
- Gift Card Options: $100 to $1,500 Amazon, Apple, or Best Buy add-ons.
Step 1: Choose the PANRE Review Course
The first step in maximizing your budget is selecting the right clinical content. The PANRE Review Course offers 100 hours of AAPA Category 1 Self-Assessment CME credit. This is significant because the NCCPA provides an additional 50% weighting for self-assessment credits. When you log 100 hours of this course, it effectively counts as 150 credits toward your certification maintenance requirements.
This course is not just for those preparing for the PANRE. It covers Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, Emergency Medicine, and specialties including Cardiology, Orthopedics, and Dermatology. It was written by physician assistants for physician assistants, ensuring the content is relevant to your daily clinical practice.
Step 2: Select the $1,500 Gift Card Add-on
Once you have selected the PANRE Review Course, you have the option to add a gift card to your purchase. This is the most efficient way to use the remainder of your employer’s CME allowance.
You can select an Amazon Gift Card, Apple Gift Card, or Best Buy Gift Card in denominations starting at $100 and going up to $1,500. If your employer provides a $2,000 allowance, you can purchase the course and a $1,500 gift card, bringing your total closer to your limit and ensuring you do not leave money on the table.
Step 3: Secure Your Non-Itemized Receipt
The most frequent question regarding gift card add-ons is how to handle the reimbursement process. Many administrative offices require a simple receipt that lists the name of the educational package.
When you purchase a CME package with a gift card add-on from CME Review Courses, you receive a non-itemized receipt. The receipt reflects the total price of the "CME Review Package." It does not separate the cost of the educational materials from the gift card. This allows you to submit a single professional document to your employer for the full amount of your allowance.
Step 4: Submit for Reimbursement
Submit your non-itemized receipt to your hospital’s medical staff office or your clinic’s practice manager. Because the receipt is for a comprehensive CME Review Course that provides 100 hours of AAPA Category 1 Credit, it meets the standard requirements for educational reimbursement.
This process is straightforward and avoids the complications of submitting multiple smaller receipts for books or travel. By consolidating your educational needs into one purchase, you simplify the administrative burden for both yourself and your employer.
Step 5: Complete Your Education and Use Your Bonus
After reimbursement, you have full access to the course content for 30 months. This long-term access is ideal for PAs who want to review specific organ systems like the Endocrine system or Neurology at their own pace.
Meanwhile, your $1,500 Amazon Gift Card is yours to use. Whether you need new medical equipment, reference books, or technology to support your clinical practice, the gift card provides the flexibility to purchase what you need when you need it.
Clinical Review: Cardiology and Internal Medicine
The following clinical scenario is representative of the high-yield questions found in the PANRE Review Course question bank.
Your patient is a 64-year-old male presenting to the emergency department with a 3-hour history of substernal chest pain that radiates to his left jaw. He describes the pain as "heavy" and rate it an 8/10. His medical history is significant for hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Vital signs are: BP 155/95 mmHg, HR 98 bpm, RR 20 bpm, and SaO2 94% on room air. An ECG is performed immediately and demonstrates 3 mm ST-segment elevation in leads II, III, and aVF.
Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in the management of this patient?
A) Administer 324 mg of chewed aspirin and activate the cardiac catheterization lab.
B) Obtain a STAT chest X-ray to rule out aortic dissection.
C) Administer IV metoprolol to reduce myocardial oxygen demand.
D) Order a troponin I and wait for the results before initiating therapy.
Explanation
The correct answer is A) Administer 324 mg of chewed aspirin and activate the cardiac catheterization lab.
This patient is presenting with a classic ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) involving the inferior wall (leads II, III, aVF). In the setting of a STEMI, time is myocardium. The standard of care is immediate reperfusion therapy. Aspirin should be administered immediately (162-325 mg) to inhibit further platelet aggregation. The "door-to-balloon" time goal for primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is less than 90 minutes. Therefore, activating the cardiac catheterization lab must occur as soon as the ECG confirms the diagnosis.
- B is incorrect: While an aortic dissection can present with chest pain, the ECG findings of ST-elevation are diagnostic of STEMI. Delaying reperfusion to obtain a chest X-ray would increase the risk of myocardial necrosis.
- C is incorrect: Beta-blockers should be used with caution in the acute phase of an MI, especially if there is any concern for heart failure or bradycardia. More importantly, they are not the primary emergent intervention for a STEMI.
- D is incorrect: You do not wait for cardiac enzymes to return if the ECG is diagnostic of a STEMI. Biomarkers are useful for NSTEMI or when the ECG is non-diagnostic, but they should not delay the transport of a STEMI patient to the catheterization lab.
For more practice with cardiology and other NCCPA blueprint areas, explore our Pharmacology Review CME and Question Bank. Our courses provide the clinical depth needed to succeed on your exams and in your daily practice.
