Board Meeting Minutes

American Academy of Emergency Medicine
Minutes of Board of Directors Meeting
Stresa, Italy
September 2, 2001

IN ATTENDANCE: Robert McNamara, MD; Joseph Wood, MD, JD; Drew Fenton, MD; Carol Barsky, MD; Howard Blumstein, MD; William Durkin, Jr., MD; Antoine Kazzi, MD; Geoffrey Mitchell, MD; Raymond Roberge, MD, MPH; Tom Scaletta, MD; Scott Weiner, MD; Leslie Zun, MD. Absent: Margaret O'Leary, MD, MBA. Staff: Kay Whalen

Dr. McNamara welcomed the Board to Stresa, Italy. He noted that the venue and the meeting itself promised to be exceptional. The Board then turned its attention to the agenda.

I.   Approval of July 12, 2001 Conference Call Minutes

Dr. Scaletta moved and Dr. Fenton seconded that the July 12, 2001 draft Board of Directors minutes be approved. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

Ms. Whalen reported that the Update mailing referred to in the July minutes had not yet been sent due to the fact that CHW will not be issuing a press release on their victory until late September.

The Board then discussed the possible need to trademark the AAEM name. Dr. Durkin moved and Dr. Blumstein seconded that AAEM apply for a trademark of AAEM and the American Academy of Emergency Medicine in 2002. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

II.   President's Report

Dr. McNamara reported that he had recently presented AAEM's message at the National Medical Association meeting in Nashville. His message was, once again, very well received.

III.   Treasurer's Report

Dr. Fenton reported that AAEM expects to end the year 2001 in sound financial health. The 2001 Scientific Assembly made a slight profit, AAEM's state chapters are a break even proposition and the Oral Board Review Courses are financially successful.

Due to the increase in subscription fees for JEM in 2002, the Board discussed the necessity of an increase in 2002 dues. After discussion, Dr. Fenton moved and Dr. Wood seconded that membership dues for 2002 be $315 for full voting and $195 for associate/emeritus/international members. Residents and students will remain unchanged. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

IV.   Membership Report

Ms. Whalen reported that AAEM currently has over 3,000 members including over 1,800 full voting members.

Next, the Board turned its attention to two requests for emeritus membership status. Dr. Barsky moved and Dr. Scaletta seconded that David Jones, MD, be granted emeritus status. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. Dr. Wood then moved and Dr. Fenton seconded that James High, MD, be granted emeritus status for 2002 provided his 2001 dues are paid. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

V.   Request for Chapter Status

The Board addressed the request of the Brazilian Society of Emergency Medicine for chapter status. Since AAEM's International Committee was meeting later in the week, Dr. McNamara asked Dr. Mitchell to discuss this request with that Committee and bring a recommendation back to the Board.

VI.   Scientific Assembly

The Board then reviewed the draft program for the 2002 Scientific Assembly and provided thoughtful comments to those Board members on the Education Committee.

The 2003 Scientific Assembly will be held in New Orleans from February 19-23, 2003.

VII.   Composition of the Executive Committee

Dr. Wood then moved and Dr. Roberge seconded that section 8.1, Authority of the Board of Directors, in the AAEM bylaws be modified to read:

The Officers of AAEM will consist of a President, Immediate Past President, Vice President and Secretary-Treasurer. These Officers are responsible for the day to day operations of the AAEM. Directors are responsible for the direction of AAEM and long-term planning. Any tie vote of the Executive Committee may be decided by the President.

MOTION PASSED 10-0-2 with Drs. McNamara and Kazzi abstaining.

VIII.   Upcoming Elections

Ms. Whalen presented the current slate of Officers and at-large Board members for the upcoming election. Dr. Durkin questioned the need to have nominations close 6 months before the election. AAEM's bylaws dictate the time frame for nominations. Ms. Whalen noted that the need to collect candidates' statements in advance of the election was due to the printing deadlines needed to include candidates' statements in AAEM's membership renewal and recruitment mailings. In the past, the Board had felt this practice was an effective recruitment tool. After discussion, the Board felt it more appropriate at this time to include candidates' statements in the January/February issue of Common Sense and on the website. Ballots will be sent to members with the January/February issue of Common Sense in 2002.

IX.   eMedicine Update

Dr. McNamara reported that the AAEM lay text has been completed. In addition, links to AAEM's www.911emergency site have been modified to make this link more apparent.

X.   AAEM Templates

Ms. Whalen reported that AAEM template sales have begun. A listing of the hospitals currently using the templates was included with the agenda materials. In addition to AAEM's promotion of the templates, a marketing plan will be developed by EvolveMed.

XI.   AAEM/ACEP Relationship

Dr. McNamara then drew the Board's attention to the letter from ACEP expressing interest in continuing the dialogue between the two organizations provided an agenda can be established. After much discussion, Dr. Barsky moved and Dr. Durkin seconded that AAEM and ACEP continue to meet to determine ways in which the two organizations can work cooperatively. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

Next, Dr. Blumstein moved and Dr. Durkin seconded that the meetings between AAEM and ACEP be physician only meetings. MOTION PASSED 10-2.

XII.   New Business

Dr. Kazzi then asked the Board to endorse a position statement on Mandated Basic Emergency Medical Screening and Stabilization prepared by a working group composed of stakeholders in the First Mediterranean Emergency Medicine Conference. Dr. Wood moved and Dr. Barsky seconded that AAEM approve the following position statement:

AAEM Position Statement on 
the Role of Government in Securing Emergency Medical Care

The AAEM Board of Directors established the following position statement during its September 2001 Board meeting which was held in conjunction with the First Mediterranean Emergency Medicine Congress in Stresa, September 2-5th, 2001.

Preamble:

Governments have a responsibility for the total health of their societies.

The health of a people depends on much more than their healthcare system.

While recognizing that emergency care, although essential, is only one component of comprehensive health care, unrestricted access to diagnosis and treatment for emergency health conditions is a human right.

Making this a legal requirement is essential for securing adequate health care.

Position Statement:

Every government should legislate that all hospitals that provide acute medical care:

1. Provide for the prompt initial assessment and management of all potential emergency conditions by qualified staff;

2. Treat and stabilize all patients with emergency medical conditions, or;

3. If the hospital has inadequate facilities to treat the condition, provide stabilization and prompt and safe transfer to a facility that can;

4. Do not transfer any patient with an untreated emergency medical condition for reasons other than medical necessity.

This landmark document was developed by an exceptional line-up of International and US national EM leaders, including many of the original founders of the specialty. The working group was organized and moderated by the AAEM Executive Chair for the Congress A. Antoine Kazzi, and included (alphabetically listed):

• Hashim Allam, MD, Undersecretary of Health, EMS National Director, Egypt
• Gail Anderson, MD, Chairman, EM, University of Southern California, Los Angeles USA
• Raed Arafat, MD, President, Romanian Society for Emergency & Disaster Medicine, Romania
• Dennis Vella Baldacchino, MD, Malta
• Thomas Cesario, MD, Dean, College of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, USA
• Francesco Della Corte, MD, EuSEM Secretary & University of Piedmont, Italy
• Herman Delooz, MD, EuSEM President, & Professor of EM, Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium
• Joseph Epstein, MD, Founder & Past President of the Australasian College of EM, Australia
• Jean-Marie Fonrouge, MD, LD, Doctor of International Law, France
• Lewis Goldfrank, MD, FAAEM, Chairman, EM, Bellevue Medical Center, New York, USA
• Rina Hakimian, JD, MPH, Gertner Institute, Sheba Medical Center, Israel
• Aaron Hexdall, MD, Bellevue Medical Center, New York, USA
• Jerome Hoffman, MD, FAAEM, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
• Zouhair Jerbi, MD, Chair, EM, Tunisia
• Antoine Kazzi, MD, FAAEM, AAEM Board of Directors, & Associate Chief of EM, the University of California, Irvine, USA
• Riad Khalifeh, MD, SOS President, Beirut, Lebanon
• Ghaleb Okla, PhD, FAAMA, Associate Dean, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Lebanon
• Robert McNamara, MD, FAAEM, AAEM President, and Chief of EM, Temple University, Philadelphia, USA
• Ulkumen Rodoplu, MD, President, The Emergency Medicine Association of Turkey (EMAT)
• Peter Rosen, MD, FAAEM, Residency Director Emeritus, University of California, San Diego, USA
• Mohamed Salameh, MD, Palestinian Authority, National EMS Director
• Hossam Sharkawi, PhD, Coordinator, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society
• David Schriger, MD, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
• Edita Stok, MD, Ministry of Health, Slovenia

Dr. Kazzi stated that the exact text has been endorsed so far by the AAEM Board of Directors and is under consideration by the EuSEM Council. The feedback so far received has been overwhelmingly supportive. He also added that the authors were seeking and inviting national and international medical organizations, institutions and governments to endorse this historical statement and to monitor at the local and national level its enactment into law and its implementation in various countries. The authors also indicated that the working group will continue its activity and prepare an additional statement on prehospital emergency care which would then be presented in two years at the upcoming Second Mediterranean EM Congress in Barcelona, September 2003. AAEM and EuSEM welcome our members' feedback with regard to this statement and the issues it presents (info@aaem.org).

MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

Next, Dr. Blumstein moved and Dr. Fenton seconded that the 2002 Draft Budget be approved as included in the agenda materials with the inclusion of an additional $2,000 in legal fees for the trademark process. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

Dr. Weiner then updated the Board on the many activities of the AAEM Resident Section Board, including the additional activities geared toward medical students.

Dr. Kazzi then reported that, due to the success of the Stresa meeting, AAEM may be approached once again to jointly sponsor an international meeting. A group of southeast Asia physicians is interested in partnering with AAEM on a Pacific Rim meeting. The Board endorsed the concept of exploring the possibility of a Pacific Rim meeting in 2002.

Dr. McNamara then thanked and congratulated Dr. Kazzi for his efforts and the success of the Stresa meeting. The Board thanked and congratulated Dr. Kazzi with a round of applause.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,

Kay Whalen
Organizational Director