Board Meeting Minutes

American Academy of Emergency Medicine
Minutes of Board of Directors Meeting
Sitges, Spain
September 13, 2003

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

Dr. Wood welcomed everyone to Sitges and turned the Board's attention to the first agenda item.

Approval of July 8, 2003 Board of Directors Conference Call Minutes

Dr. Scaletta moved and Dr. Sharieff seconded that the July 8, 2003 conference call minutes be approved. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

President's Report

Dr. Wood reported that AAEM had been informed that Team Health has filed a lawsuit against emergency physicians from CA. He felt that AAEM may be able to lend its support by filing an amicus brief or perhaps by filing its own lawsuit in support of AAEM members. Dr. Rodgers moved and Dr. Li seconded that AAEM budget up to $10,000 to explore the feasibility of filing a lawsuit against Team Health on behalf of AAEM members. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

Treasurer's Report

Dr. Scaletta reported that AAEM is currently in good financial health. However, we will not be able to determine the actual net income from the meeting in Sitges for several months. In addition, Dr. Scaletta noted the non-dues revenue from template sales and consulting services would allow AAEM to provide more member services.

Next, the Board reviewed the proposed 2004 budget. After discussion, Dr. McNamara moved and Dr. Rodgers seconded that the 2004 budget be approved as presented in the agenda materials. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

Membership Report

Ms. Whalen reported that full voting membership was 14.6% ahead of the previous year's pace. In addition, the associate and resident membership categories are increasing at an extremely high pace.

Dr. McNamara suggested that current AAEM members be sent an e-mail giving them the opportunity to renew their dues electronically.

Legislative Report

Dr. McNamara reported that the most significant AAEM legislative activity had been a meeting with the OIG following a joint ACEP/EDPMA meeting with the OIG. The OIG had explored the corporate practice of medicine issue after AAEM had brought this issue to their attention a few years ago. Dr. McNamara and AAEM's legislative consultant, Kathi Ream, met with OIG officials on August 4, 2003 after the ACEP/EDPMA meeting and had sent additional information to the OIG on the corporate practice of medicine. AAEM has also sent an e-mail to our membership outlining these issues. The AAEM membership message has generated a considerable amount of attention.

Dr. McNamara also reported that AAEM had supported several malpractice legislative initiatives and had sent letters regarding various issues to the elected legislators. One of the legislative issues that we will need to follow is the reaction to the EMTALA changes loosening the requirements for on call coverage.

Dr. Wood will send Kathi Ream an e-mail thanking her for her efforts.

AAEM Services Update

Dr. Scaletta referred to the report on the activities of AAEM Services' democratic group consulting that had been distributed. The feedback that AAEM has received on these services has been quite positive. The Board also discussed ways that these consulting services could be expanded.

The need to update and more widely market the templates was also discussed.

Malpractice Website Update

Dr. Blumstein reported that he had received three cases for review for the "Remarkable Testimony" website. These cases need to be scanned before they are posted to the website.

Malpractice Insurance

Dr. Scaletta hoped to be able to present an option for malpractice insurance at the February Board meeting.

Bylaws Revision

Dr. Wood then asked the Board to discuss the bylaws amendment that would allow Canadian emergency physicians with equivalent training to become full voting members. Dr. McNamara moved and Dr. Scaletta seconded that the following bylaws amendment be approved:

4.2 Voting Membership
Full voting membership requires certification in Emergency Medicine or Pediatric Emergency Medicine by either the American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM) or the American Osteopathic Board of Emergency Medicine (AOBEM) or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. A Voting Member shall be entitled to vote in all elections of the Academy.

MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

Sitges/Barcelona Report

Dr. Kazzi reported that there were over 1,000 registrants fro the Congress. He asked the Board members to help serve as time moderators at various sessions. The Board felt that given the success of the Congress, AAEM would be willing to sponsor a similar meeting in 2005.

ABEM Nominee

Dr. Wood reported that Richard Wolfe, MD, had asked AAEM to nominate him for the ABEM Board. After discussion, Dr. McNamara moved and Dr. Scaletta seconded that AAEM nominate Richard Wolfe, MD, for the ABEM Board. MOTION PASSED 10-0-1.

New Business

At the request of the host country EM society, Dr. Kazzi then presented a document that called for access to emergency care in Spain. Dr. Sharieff moved and Dr. Rodgers seconded that AAEM endorse the Manifesto for the Creation of the Specialization of Emergency Medicine in Spain. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

Dr. Li then presented two draft position statements regarding access to care. After discussion, Dr. Li moved and Dr. Kazzi seconded that the following position statement be adopted by AAEM

AAEM Position Statement on Funding for EMTALA Requirements

Whereas,

• One in five Americans currently does not possess health insurance,

• Emergency Medicine is experiencing a crisis in overcrowding and inadequate funding,

• Emergency departments are more than ever before expected to act as the front line for medical services in the event of regional or national disasters,

It is the position of the American Academy of Emergency Medicine that:

The federal regulation (EMTALA, 1986) requiring screening and treatment for medical emergencies must also be federally funded to provide emergency resources for those patients who do not pay for their mandated care.

MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

Dr. Li moved and Dr. Mitchell seconded that the following position statement be adopted by AAEM:

AAEM Position Statement on Documentation and Payment
for EMTALA Requirements

Whereas,

The existing system of submitting forms documenting total body medical history and total body examination during time critical and condition specific emergency treatment in order to obtain payment for emergency services rendered is both antiquated and burdensome, directly reducing time spent in bedside patient care,

It is the position of the American Academy of Emergency Medicine that:

To improve emergency patient care, systems for reimbursement of emergency services must be simplified.

MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

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

Respectfully submitted,

Kay Whalen
Executive Director