Board Meeting Minutes

American Academy of Emergency Medicine
Minutes of Board of Directors Conference Call
January 8, 2008

In Attendance: Tom Scaletta, MD; Larry Weiss, MD, JD; Howard Blumstein, MD; Joseph Wood, MD, JD; Robert McNamara, MD; Anthony DeMond, MD; Stephen Hayden, MD; James Li, MD; Kevin Rodgers, MD; Andy Walker, MD; Mark Reiter, MD; Brian Potts, MD. Absent: Tracy Boykin, MD; David Kramer, MD; Richard Shih, MD. Staff: Kay Whalen and Janet Wilson.

Dr. Scaletta welcomed everyone to the call and turned the board's attention to the first agenda item.

Approval of Minutes

There being no corrections to the November minutes, Dr. Blumstein moved and Dr. McNamara seconded that the November 13, 2006 minutes be approved. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

There being no correction to the May 16th minutes that had been included in the agenda Materials, Dr. Li moved and Dr. Wood seconded that the May 16, 2006 executive session minutes be approved as drafted. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

President's Report

Dr. Scaletta reported that AAEM had recently learned that ACEP had approached the organizers of the Inter-American Conference on Emergency Medicine (IACEM). This is the conference that AAEM had sponsored and underwritten in 2006. It is unclear at this point whether AAEM or ACEP will co-organize this conference in 2008. Dr. Scaletta will write a letter to the Argentinean leadership to determine whether AAEM will have a role in this meeting.

Dr. Scaletta also reported that AAEM will apply for full membership status in the International Federation of Emergency Medicine (IFEM).

Next, Dr. Scaletta reported that he has proposed a new inter-organizational alliance called the Meeting of Emergency Medicine StakeHolders (MESH). The inaugural meeting will take place just prior to the AAEM board meeting in Las Vegas on March 11, 2007.

The new AAEM Services templates should be ready to debut at the Scientific Assembly. The Practice Guidelines committee and the Reimbursement committee are in the process of reviewing these templates.

AAEM, ACEP and ENA have been working together to address the new JCAHO pharmacy review Standard MM 4.10 on medication reconciliation. This group has worked quite well together.

ACEP has informed us that they will respond to AAEM's Unity Proposal by mid-February. This will be on the agenda for the March board meeting.

Dr. Scaletta will serve as an expert witness in a restrictive covenant case. In addition, he will be speaking at Ohio State, in Tucson and at the newly-formed AAEM state chapter in New York.

Treasurer's Report

The board reviewed the audit bids and recommendations of Dr. Durkin. Dr. Rodgers moved and Dr. DeMond seconded that the firm of Ritz, Holman, Butala, Fine be engaged to perform the 2006 audit. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

Dr. Blumstein then provided an overview of the November financial statements which had been included in the agenda materials.

excutive Director's Report

Ms. Whalen reported that AAEM is 3.4% ahead of the previous year's pace in dues collection. A second notice will be sent in the next few weeks.

For informational purposes, Ms. Whalen also presented the slate of candidates for the 2007 board of directors election.

MEMC Update

Ms. Whalen reported that planning for MEMC IV, which will be held in Sorrento, Italy from September 15-19, 2007, is continuing to move forward. Dr. Scaletta had participated in a call during which the decision-making authority of the MEMC IV planning committee was outlined.

CPOM

Dr. McNamara reported that depositions in the Texas case were currently underway.

The Pennsylvania Medical Society has decided not to take action on the case in Pennsylvania, although there is still discussion regarding this.

Dr. Weiss reported that the letter to St. Agnes Hospital in Maryland will undergo one final review before it is sent.

There is no update on the case in North Carolina at this point in time.

PEPID

Dr. Reiter reported on his negotiations with PEPID. Those on the call felt that academic programs may be interested in helping with this initiative. After a lengthy discussion, Dr. DeMond moved and Dr. Rodgers seconded that Dr. Reiter be empowered to conduct final negotiations with PEPID. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

New Business

Ms. Whalen reported that staff is in the process of drafting an AAEM policy manual. The manual will incorporate all AAEM policies previously approved by the AAEM board as well as new policies for the board to approve. EDI is asking all clients to adopt such a manual in the wake of Sarbanes Oxley legislation. Dr. Scaletta will appoint a work group to review these materials and to bring this manual to the board for approval.

Dr. Rodgers requested a budget of $3,000 to thank and recruit oral board examiners. After much discussion regarding the best way to recruit oral board examiners, Dr. DeMond moved and Dr. Reiter seconded that $3,000 be budgeted for a reception for oral board examiners at the Scientific Assembly.MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY WITH DR. RODGERS ABSTAINING.

There being no further business, Dr. Hayden moved and Dr. DeMond seconded that the conference call meeting be adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,

Kay Whalen

Executive Director