Board Meeting Minutes

American Academy of Emergency Medicine
Minutes of Board of Directors Meeting
St. Louis, Missouri
May 18-19, 2002

IN ATTENDANCE: Joseph Wood, MD, JD; Robert McNamara, MD; A. Antoine Kazzi, MD; Tom Scaletta, MD; Carol Barsky, MD; Howard Blumstein, MD; William Durkin, Jr., MD; Geoffrey Mitchell, MD; Raymond Roberge, MD; Kevin Rodgers, MD, Paul Sierzenski, MD; Scott Weiner, MD. Absent: Anthony DeMond, MD, James Li, MD. Staff: Joan Geiger.

Saturday, May 18, 2002

Approval of March 14, 2002 Board of Directors Meeting Minutes

The Board began the meeting with a discussion of the draft March 14, 2002. Minutes. Dr. Roberge wanted to know how the cost of printing Common Sense was being monitored to keep costs down. Dr. Wood said that the editor and staff are aware of the Board's concern.

Dr. Wood then asked for a motion to approve the minutes. Dr. Scaletta moved and Dr. Roberge seconded that the March 14, 2002 Board of Directors meeting minutes be approved. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

Treasurer's Report

Dr. Scaletta provided an overview of the financial status for AAEM. He asked the Board to review the line by line explanation and to also remember that full-voting member dues were increased to $315 (dues in 2001 were $295).

Dr. Wood asked that discussion on the 2002 Scientific Assembly be deferred until the next conference call. He mentioned that the cost of the Assembly was increased because AAEM doubled the number of speakers and more people attended the meeting. Dr. Scaletta expressed his concern about charging a registration fee for the assembly. The Board discussed having Board members becoming more involved in the meeting, finding speakers in closer proximity to the meeting and seeking unrestricted grant opportunities.

Dr. Kazzi reported that AAEM should lose less than we budgeted from the Stresa meeting.

Dr. Rodgers then moved and Dr. Roberge seconded that the Treasurer's Report be accepted. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

Dr. Scaletta asked the Board to approve a policy to allow checks for $100 or less to be signed by staff without a co-signature by the treasurer. Any check made payable to an EDI representative would still need two signatures. The treasurer will continue to receive the check register showing all checks written as well as copies of all invoices.

Dr. Durkin moved and Dr. Blumstein seconded that checks for $100 or less may be signed by staff without the treasurer's co-signature as long as the check is not payable to EDI or an EDI representative. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

President's Report

Dr. Wood reported that he and Dr. Kazzi will meet with the ACEP president and president-elect during the SAEM meeting.

Next, the Board discussed the Greenwood HEALTH Act which had previously been endorsed by the AAEM Executive Committee. Dr. Blumstein moved and Dr. Roberge seconded that the AAEM Board endorse the Greenwood HEALTH Act. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

Dr. McNamara mentioned that he recently spoke to residents in Pittsburgh, at the Wisconsin Medical College and the Florida Osteopath Program. Dr. McNamara expressed his willingness to speak at other residency programs.

Membership Report

The Board then turned its attention to the membership report. Dr. Wood noted that paid full voting members are 5% ahead of last year's pace. Dr. Roberge suggested that names of AAEM members that did not renew be provided to Board members for follow-up.

Next, the Board reviewed the request for emeritus membership. Dr. Roberge moved and Dr. Sierzenski seconded that M.K. Datta, MD, be granted emeritus membership. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

The Board then discussed honorary international membership. Dr. McNamara moved and Dr. Sierzenski seconded that the AAEM change its bylaws to read:

4.7 Honorary International Membership

An honorary international membership is available to presidents of international societies. Honorary international members shall have no right to vote.

Application to become an Honorary International Member shall be made to the Board of Directors for its consideration and shall be approved by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the Board Members present and voting.
 

MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.


2003 Election Procedure

The Board then discussed the 2003 election procedure document. Dr. Blumstein moved and Dr. Weiner seconded that AAEM accept the following document for the 2003 election process.

Proposed 2003 Election Process

No one can vote without paying 2003 Dues Except Lifetime Members.

1) 2003 Jan/Feb issue of Common Sense (A, R, S, SF) will include:
Candidates' statements *

2) 2003 members (FV, L, E) election mailing will include:
Common Sense
Letter explaining election process
Candidates' statements
Numbered ballot
Extra envelope for ballot return

Anyone who is planning to attend the Scientific Assembly will be encouraged to cast their ballot there. The letters explaining the election process will also highlight this.

Ballots from those not attending the Scientific Assembly will be sent to the AAEM office in a sealed envelope and tallied by a Milwaukee CPA firm. The results of this portion of the election will be carried to the Scientific Assembly in a sealed envelope.

At the Scientific Assembly, a small committee (perhaps consisting of Board Members not up for election) will tally the on-site ballots and add them to the results of the mailed ballots. AAEM Full Voting, Lifetime and Emeritus Members who previously mailed their ballots, will be allowed to change their vote at the Scientific Assembly.

All candidates must be current in their dues payment at the time of the election. If any candidate has not paid their 2003 dues at the time of the election, they will be ineligible.

In the event of a tie for any office or Board position, the Board of Directors (serving the day prior to the election) will vote to break the tie. Any Board member that is a candidate in the tied election shall be ineligible to vote. In the event that the Board of Directors does not reach a majority decision, the Immediate Past President will determine the winner.

. 750 word maximum written by nominee

MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

Discussion then focused on making this an ongoing policy for AAEM.

Dr. McNamara moved and Dr. Mitchell seconded that each candidate be limited to listing only three nominators. MOTION PASSED 10-0-2. Drs. Roberge and Weiner abstained.

ABEM Core Content Approval

The Board then discussed the ABEM Core Content initiative. Dr. Wood asked Dr. Kazzi to work with a small task force to review ABEM core content and report back to the Board.

Barcelona Budget

Dr. Kazzi will work with organizers on the budget and also look into pursuing partnerships with other organizations. Dr. Wood requested that Dr. Kazzi bring back further information to the AAEM Board.

Amiodarone Position Statement

The discussion of the AAEM Amiodarone Position Statement was tabled until the next meeting.

Hyperbaric Medicine

The Board then discussed AAEMLa's Resolution on Hyperbaric Medicine. Dr. Scaletta agreed to draft a statement for the Board to review. The Board would like this promoted in Common Sense.

Firearms Task Force

Dr. Wood then expressed thanks to the Firearms Task Force for the thorough job they completed.

Dr. Blumstein moved and Dr. Durkin seconded that the information collected from the Firearms Task Force be added to the website. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

Dr. Wood will send a letter to the Task Force letting them know the information will be added to the AAEM website and also encourage them to submit a copy to JEM for publication.

Senator Rockefeller Bill

Dr. Durkin moved and Dr. Blumstein seconded that AAEM endorse Senator Rockefeller's bill on the Medicare Incentive Payment Program. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

ACCME Change

Dr. Wood then discussed a proposed change in ACCME review. Currently the Executive Committee reviews everything needing ACCME approval (Scientific Assembly, eMed Home, etc.). The organization has grown and it would now be appropriate for the Education Committee to review ACCME requests. Dr. Rodgers moved and Dr. Mitchell seconded that the AAEM Education Committee (or a sub-committee thereof) be responsible for reviewing ACCME requests. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

Plaintiff Experts

The Board then discussed drafting a policy that would require Board members to refrain from testifying against a member.

Dr. McNamara moved and Dr. Barsky seconded that AAEM adopt the following Plaintiff Experts Policy.

Whereas, membership on the Board of Directors of AAEM requires that the Board members serve the interests of the membership above their own interests, therefore be it RESOLVED that

Members of the Board of Directors of AAEM shall refrain from giving expert testimony against a member of AAEM while serving on the Board. A Board member engaging in such activity is subject to removal from the Board upon majority vote of the Board and the membership will be informed of the cause of such removal.
 

MOTION PASSED 9-3.

Dr. McNamara moved and Dr. Sierzenski seconded that AAEM encourage Board members to continue the Plantiff Experts Policy after their Board term is completed. MOTION FAILED.

New Business

In-house emergencies: Drs. Roberge and Blumstein will draft language for Board approval. Once approved, it will be included in Common Sense and e-mailed to members.

Meeting registration for members of related associations: Dr. Kazzi will draft a policy recommendation on waiving meeting registration with reciprocating organizations for Board approval.

Drs. Blumstein and McNamara will draft a letter to be sent to Child magazine in reference to an article about pediatric emergency medicine care. Dr. Kazzi will work with a committee on drafting a position statement.

AAEM membership card: Drs. Scaletta and Roberge to draft copy for a membership card.

Dr. Blumstein and Dr. Barsky seconded that the meeting be adjourned. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.


Sunday, May 19, 2002

The AAEM Board reconvened on Sunday, May 19, 2002.

On-Call Crisis Position Statement

The Board discussed the On-Call Crisis Position Statement proposed by Dr. McNamara. Dr. Blumstein moved and Dr. Roberge seconded that the On-Call Crisis Position Statement be accepted.
 

The American Academy of Emergency Medicine believes the crisis in "on call" coverage represents a very serious threat to the welfare of emergency department patients and the emergency care system in this country. Currently, there are many situations in which an emergency physician cannot secure timely access to needed care by a specialist for a patient in crisis. This situation promises to worsen if significant corrective action is not taken.

The Academy believes it is essential to have specialists available to emergency department patients. However, the Academy stands in full agreement with its colleagues in other specialties that it is unreasonable to create regulatory or administrative requirements forcing them to provide care with no guarantee of payment. The solution to the "on call" crisis requires reasonable compensation for all physicians engaged in the care of emergency department patients.
 

MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

The Board requests news releases issued on the On-Call Crisis Position Statement.

Dr. Blumstein moved and Dr. Durkin seconded that the meeting be adjourned. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

Respectfully submitted,


Joan Geiger
Director of Communications