Board Meeting Minutes

American Academy of Emergency Medicine Minutes of
Board of Directors Conference Call Meeting
June 21, 2000

IN ATTENDANCE: Robert McNamara, MD; Joseph Wood, MD; Howard Blumstein, MD; William Durkin, Jr., MD; Antoine Kazzi, MD; Christopher Minas, MD; Margaret O'Leary, MD; Tom Scaletta, MD; George Schwartz, MD; Tobey Williams, MD; Leslie Zun, MD. Staff: Eric Lanke and Kay Whalen

Dr. McNamara welcomed everyone to the call and directed the Board's attention to the first agenda item.

I. Approval of May 20 and May 21, 2000 Board Meeting Minutes

Dr. McNamara noted that, in the May 20, 2000 minutes, the second sentence under Section X, Meetings Update, should read, "AAEM will also explore holding an educational forum." He also noted that under Section XI, AAEM PA Position Statement, the first motion should read

" . . . with minimal word changes be removed from the table."

Dr. Wood moved and Dr. Blumstein seconded that the minutes of the May 20, 2000 Board meeting be approved. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

Dr. Durkin moved and Dr. Wood seconded that the minutes of the May 21, 2000 Board meeting be approved as drafted. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

II. AAEM Services Update

Dr. McNamara then noted that the AAEM Services Committee had discussed the issue of compensation for his services with Dr. Moss. These discussions resulted in a shift toward compensation based on product outcomes rather than on hours worked.

After a discussion of the proposed compensation plan. Dr. Wood moved and Dr. Zun seconded that the Board empower the Executive Committee to obtain the services of a consultant to review the proposed compensation plan and negotiate such a plan with Dr. Moss in order to make recommendations to AAEM regarding this plan. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

Dr. McNamara then moved and Dr. Durkin seconded that the Board endorse the concept of an outcomes-based incentive compensation method. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

III. Strategic Planning Update

Ms. Whalen referred to the strategic planning session charts that were included in the agenda packet. She asked those on the call to review the document to ensure that they were assigned to the correct areas of focus. She would be e-mailing the chairs of each area of focus to determine how the various Committees would meet.

IV. Due Process Position Statement

Dr. McNamara then reminded the Board that a motion to approve an AAEM Due Process Position Statement had been tabled during the May 20, 2000 Board meeting.

Dr. Blumstein moved and Dr. Durkin seconded that the motion to approve an AAEM Due Process Position Statement be removed from the table. MOTION PASSED 8-3.

Dr. Scaletta moved and Dr. Durkin seconded that the last sentence of the opening paragraph be modified to read, " . . . fundamental to quality patient care and the pursuit of one's livelihood, and should not be forfeited and may not be taken away . . ." MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

Dr. Wood moved and Dr. McNamara seconded that point #4 which read, "Continued work at the same facility with the same professional status and hours despite change of contracting entities," be deleted. After much discussion, Dr. Durkin moved and Dr. Zun seconded that the question be called. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. THE ORIGINAL MOTION PASSED 10-1.

Dr. Wood moved and Dr. O'Leary seconded that the phrase, "(and, for Emergency Medicine practice concerns, a consensus of board certified emergency physicians)" be deleted. MOTION FAILED 2-9.

Dr. O'Leary asked the source of the points listed under the Fair Hearing section of this statement. Dr. Scaletta replied that they had been based on the AMA Fair Hearings Guidelines.

The Board then revisited the motion from the May 20, 2000 Board meeting regarding the adoption of an AAEM Due Process Statement. With the amendments made by the Due Process Committee and those listed here, the AAEM Position Statement on Due Process which the Board would adopt reads as follows:

AAEM Position Statement on Due Process

An emergency physician is entitled to Due Process upon unilateral termination by his or her employer (or contracting entity) or upon any other adverse action that otherwise affects his or her job security. Due Process assumes that the following are property rights of an emergency physician, fundamental to quality patient care and the pursuit of one's livelihood, and should not be forfeited and may not be taken away without reasonable cause and a Fair Hearing.

1. Clinical privileges

2. Medical staff membership

3. Regular, predictable, and fair shift scheduling

A Fair Hearing consists of the following:

1. The interest of patients and the public must be protected in any hearing

2. A hearing body consisting of a physician peer group (and, for Emergency Medicine practice concerns, a consensus of board certified emergency physicians)

3. Listing of all charges and objective evidence of reasonable cause

4. Adequate notice of the right to the hearing and of when/where it will take place

5. The opportunity to be present, rebut the evidence, and present a defense

6. Compliance with established rules regarding the extent to which an attorney may participate

7. The hearing body must render a decision based solely on the evidence produced at the hearing

MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

This position statement will be publicized in Common Sense.

V. Third Party Billing Update

Dr. McNamara noted that there was not yet much to report in this area. Letters had been sent to several billing companies asking for information, but we had not yet received responses. He also asked the Board to review the material regarding this issue that had been mailed to them.

VI. AAEM/ACEP Relationship

Dr. McNamara reported that the AAEM Executive Committee had met with ACEP during the SAEM meeting. ACEP was represented by most of the ACEP Board with the exception of contract holders. It was apparent during the discussions that ACEP believes that AAEM should dissolve. It was also apparent that ACEP would not work with AAEM on any projects that would promote AAEM.

Dr. McNamara also noted that he had received a call from Michael Rapp, MD, asking him to join ACEP. The Board briefly discussed this possibility.

VII. New Business

There being no new or further business, Dr. Wood moved and Dr. Durkin seconded that the conference call meeting of the AAEM Board of Directors be adjourned. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

Respectfully submitted,

Kay Whalen
Organizational Director