Board Meeting Minutes

American Academy of Emergency Medicine
Minutes of Board of Directors Conference Call
July 8, 2003

IN ATTENDANCE: Joseph Wood, MD, JD; Robert McNamara, MD; A. Antoine Kazzi, MD; Tom Scaletta, MD; William Durkin, Jr., MD; Raymond Roberge, MD; Kevin Rodgers, MD; Ghazala Sharieff, MD; Larry Weiss, MD. Absent: Carol Barsky, MD; Howard Blumstein, MD; James Li, MD; Geoffrey Mitchell, MD; Jesse Pines, MD. Staff: Kay Whalen and Beth Wilson.

Dr. Wood welcomed everyone to the call and asked if it was acceptable to send the agenda via e-mail when possible. Those on the call felt that it was acceptable to receive the agenda in this manner when feasible.

Approval of May 3 and 4, 2003 Board Meeting Minutes

Dr. Wood then turned the Board's attention to the draft minutes from the in-person meeting held in Rosemont, IL. Dr. Kazzi moved and Dr. Roberge seconded that the May 3 and 4, 2003 minutes be approved. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

President's Report

Dr. Wood reported that he had represented AAEM at the AMA June meeting in Chicago and had attended the SSS meetings as well as the Emergency Medicine caucus organized by ACEP. In the past, AAEM has asked local Board members to represent AAEM, but Dr. Wood felt it would be best to have a consistent representative. Dr. McNamara has agreed to be that representative.

Dr. Wood then announced that AAEM has not received a response from the RRC-EM to the second letter AAEM sent to them once again stating AAEM's concerns about TeamHealth's involvement in the Tampa residency program. AAEM has sent a third letter to the RRC-EM stating additional concerns regarding the organizations that submit nominations to the RRC. Most specialties have their academic society submit nominations to the RRC. However, it is ACEP, and not SAEM that submits nominations to the RRC-EM.

Next, Dr. Wood reminded the Board that as AAEM continues to mature as an organization, we need to have more structure to our in-person and telephonic Board meetings. Therefore, we will set time limits on agenda items to ensure that business can be carried out in a more efficient manner. Conference calls will not last longer than 2 hours. Dr. Sharieff asked if the time frame traditionally set for conference calls could be moved. After a brief discussion, those on the call felt that it would be best to maintain the current time frame for conference calls.

Treasurer's Report

Dr. Scaletta then presented the May 31, 2003 financial statements. He reported that AAEM is doing well financially at this point in time. As the year progresses and we realize actual expenses, we will have a better picture of the 2003 financial experience. Dr. Scaletta also reminded the Board that AAEM's auditors are concerned about our negative net worth, so we must continue to budget to decrease this figure.

Membership Report

Ms. Whalen reported that AAEM is currently 13.7% ahead of the previous year's pace in full voting members. Resident membership is 38.5% ahead of the previous year's pace.

Dr. Roberge suggested that AAEM send congratulatory letters to those who have successfully become ABEM or AOBEM certified. AAEM had requested this list from ABEM in the past, but was not able to obtain it. Those on the call felt that we should once again request this list from ABEM and AOBEM as well.

Due to the fact that there were not ten Board members on the call, the Board deferred on the bylaws change that would allow those certified in EM by the Royal College of Physicians of Canada to become full voting members.

Sitges/Barcelona Update

Dr. Kazzi reported that we currently have 273 registrants for the meeting in Sitges/Barcelona. We had 100 fewer registrants at the same point in time for the Stressa meeting. To date, 200 abstracts have been submitted.

Dr. Kazzi also asked that the AAEM Board act as "executive officers" during the meeting to ensure that the meeting runs on time.

Common Good

Dr. McNamara asked if the Board had had a chance to visit the Common Good website. This organization is based on the premise that the country needs a new system of medical justice and has petitioned Congress for change. According to AAEM's legislative representative, Kathi Ream, everyone that she has asked has had positive comments about the organization. She has recommended that AAEM become a sponsor of this organization.

Dr. McNamara moved and Dr. Sharieff seconded that AAEM become a sponsor for the Common Good organization. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. Dr. Weiss volunteered to write an article about this for Common Sense. We will also place a statement on our website in the malpractice section supporting the organization.

Oral Board Review Course Examiners

During the May Board meeting, the Board had passed a policy that would give all Oral Board Review Course examiners a $250 AAEM gift certificate. Dr. Rodgers had spoken with Dr. Goldman who had asked the Board to reconsider this policy. Rather, the Oral Board course directors were requesting free membership for a year for first time examiners. After discussion, Dr. McNamara moved and Dr. Rodgers seconded that first time Oral Board Review Course examiners receive a voucher for one year's membership. This voucher could be transferable. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

New Business

Dr. Kazzi reported that he was exploring non-financial ways in which AAEM could be involved with the Emergency Medicine portion of the Trauma Course International which will be held in Australia in October of 2004.

There being no further business, Dr. Durkin moved and Dr. Scaletta seconded that the conference call meeting be adjourned. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

Respectfully submitted,

Kay Whalen
Executive Director