(Radio Iowa) — Many of Iowa’s rural communities are experiencing a doctor shortage but physician assistants, or P-As, are helping to fill the gap. Jonathan Sobel, president of the America Academy of Physician Assistants, says some Iowans may not know just how much a P-A can do versus an M-D — which is just about everything. “We’re medical professionals who diagnose illness and develop and manage treatment plans, prescribe medications and often serve as the patient’s health care provider,” Sobel says. “We work on health care teams with physicians and other providers in just about every medical setting and specialty you can think of and there’s more than 123,000 of us in the United States.”

In Iowa, there are more than 14-hundred P-As and they have a median base salary in the state of $108,000. The P-A profession was ranked #3 in U.S. News and World Report’s 2017 Best 100 Jobs List. Sobel says those interested in medicine should consider a P-A program. “It’s now currently at the masters degree level and we have 236 accredited programs across the country,” Sobel says. “We’re helping to fill the shortage in physicians and that gap that exists throughout the country in many areas.”

The programs run 27 months or 3 academic years and a bachelor’s degree is required for acceptance. The P-A concept was developed in the 1960s as there was a doctor shortage and experienced combat medics were returning from Vietnam. The program was developed to put their skills to civilian use.  “PAs increase access to care for patients and reduce wait times,” Sobel says. “PAs have been time-proven, we’re over 50 years old. A few years ago, a Harris Poll looked at satisfaction amongst patients with their PAs and it was well over 90%.”

With thousands of hours of medical training, he notes P-As are versatile and collaborative.

(Radio Iowa) — Three candidates for governor spend part of Sunday afternoon discussing how to improve access to mental health and substance abuse treatment in Iowa. Options for financing and expanding treatment were covered and debated, but the candidates each made a point of urging Iowans to seek treatment for a mental health condition or addiction. “This year I will be celebrating 18 years of sobriety,” Republican Governor Kim Reynolds said and the audience applauded. “…I would not have been able to do it on my own with the support of a family, my community and the services that I was afforded.” Libertarian candidate Jake Porter spoke about suffering from depression and contemplating suicide in 2011.

“We have to be able to share these stores, even though they are not comfortable, even though we don’t want to, even though they aren’t stuff we like to talk about,” Porter said. Fred Hubbell, the Democratic Party’s nominee for governor, agreed it’s time to erase the stigma associated with seeking treatment for a mental illness. “It’s no different from some kind of cancer. You can’t see it, but it’s real and needs to be addressed. It needs to be taken care of,” Hubbell said. “That’s how we need to talk about it. That’s how we need to address it.”

The forum was sponsored by The Des Moines Register, the Iowa Hospital Association and Des Moines University.

(Radio Iowa) — Republican Governor Kim Reynolds held her second annual “Harvest Festival” fundraiser this weekend, critiquing her opponent’s debate performance and bringing in reinforcements who stressed a national G-O-P campaign theme. White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders was the evening’s keynote speaker, telling the audience elections have consequences — and there’s a 5-to-4 conservative majority on the U.S. Supreme Court now because Donald Trump is president. Senator Chuck Grassley told the crowd “Remember Kavanaugh!” should be the battle cry of every Republican campaign in the country. And Senator Joni Ernst asked the crowd to acknowledge Grassley’s role in getting U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh confirmed. “I know this is Kim Reynolds’ night, but can we give a big round for Chuck Grassley?” Ernst asked.

The White House press secretary also praised Grassley’s role as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. “He singlehandedly stood in the face and said: ‘Absolutely not. We will not allow you to take over this process. We will not allow you to tear us down and we will not allow us to stop,'” Sanders said. “He did a great thing. Thank you, senator.” That was the third of three ovations Grassley received from the crowd of Republicans gathered in Des Moines Saturday night. Reynolds asked the crowd if they’d watched her debate with Democratic challenger Fred Hubbell.

“I have to tell you, I had a fun,” Reynolds said. “It was my first debate ever, but it is pretty darned fun to talk about the amazing things that are happening in this state and talk about how we want to build on that success and I think it was a stark contrast.” Reynolds told the crowd Hubbell didn’t look like he was having fun during the event because he was “tearing down our state.” Reynolds and Hubbell are scheduled to debate again on Wednesday night. Their third and final debate will be held on Sunday morning.

Red Oak Police, late Sunday night, arrested 25-year old Logan Samuel Cashatt, of Red Oak. He was taken into custody at around 11:20-p.m. in the 100 block of N. 2nd Street, for Domestic Abuse Assault. Cashatt was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held without bond.

The Atlantic Sesquicentennial Parade was held in conjunction with the 2018 Fireman’s Parade, Saturday evening. The winners are as follows:

Judges Choice –

Prize – $50 Fareway gift certificate from Fareway Stores Inc. and Dana Halder

Winner – Methodist Church

The Year 2068 –

Prize – $50 cash

Winner – Lucas Christensen

Civic Organization –

Prize – Atlantic Sesquicentennial t-shirts (20 each) from Community Promotion Commission

Winner – Cass County Creators 4-H Club

Agriculture –

Prize – The Pink Plow and “I Got Plowed” buttons (20 ea) from Steve and Marie Livengood

Winner – Gary Christensen

Historical People –

Prize – $50 cash

Winner – Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War, Camp #23

Here are the winners of the categories for the 150th Celebration/Parade (with signs designating their categories)…

Judges Choice Winners – Methodist Church

“The Year 2068” Winner – Lucas Christensen

“Historical People” award – Winner – Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War, Camp #23

“Agriculture” Winner – Gary Christensen

“Civic Organization” Winner – Cass County Creators 4-H Club