Board Meeting Minutes

American Academy of Emergency Medicine
Minutes of Board of Directors Conference Call
September 11, 2006

In Attendance: Tom Scaletta, MD; Larry Weiss, MD, JD; Howard Blumstein, MD; Joseph Wood, MD, JD; Robert McNamara, MD; Anthony DeMond, MD; Stephen Hayden, MD; David Kramer, MD; James Li, MD; Kevin Rodgers, MD; Andy Walker, MD; Mark Reiter, MD; Brian Potts, MD. Absent: Tracy Boykin, MD; Richard Shih, MD. Guest: Randal Brotherhood. Staff: Kay Whalen and Janet Wilson.

Dr. Scaletta welcomed everyone to the call and turned the board’s attention to the first agenda item.

Approval of July 10, 2006 Minutes

Dr. Scaletta asked if there were any changes to the draft minutes included in the agenda materials. There being none, Dr. Li moved and Dr. Reiter seconded that the July 10, 2006 minutes be approved as drafted. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

President’s Report

Dr. McNamara suggested that AAEM promote the Fairness in the Workplace document both on the website and as a broadcast e-mail.

Dr. Scaletta reported that, as the AAEM representative, he had participated in a staffing consortium at ENA. ENA had invited both AAEM and ACEP to participate.

Dr. Scaletta then asked Mr. Brotherhood to update the board on the negotiations with AAEM Services’ current template partner. After this update, the full board commented on the situation so that the AAEM Services Board would know the board’s opinion on this matter. Dr. McNamara noted that Dr. Scaletta should be commended for his efforts in this area. At this point, Mr. Brotherhood left the call.

The debate between Drs. McNamara and Kellerman at Temple University is in the editing process.

AAEM will send the IOM information about fee splitting in order to educate them on corporate practice of medicine issues.

Dr. Hayden reported that both Drs. Rodriguez and Dr. Witting had accepted associate editor positions with JEM.

Treasurer’s Report

Dr. Blumstein stated that AAEM is currently on budget for this calendar year. He reviewed the July 2006 financial statements that were included in the agenda materials. He noted that the annual payment to JEM had been paid in August, so this was not reflected on these statements.

Executive Director’s Report

Ms. Whalen reported that full voting membership is 9% ahead of the 2005 membership pace. AAEM/RSA is also having great success in increasing membership.

MEMC4 Update

Ms. Whalen reported that AAEM and EuSEM are currently negotiating contracts with the Sorrento Hilton as well as the Italian professional conference organizer (PCO). In order to respond to EuSEM’s concerns that the Congress appears to be run by AAEM rather than as a joint meeting, EDI’s name will appear as the Congress secretariat rather than AAEM’s.

CPOM Update

Dr. Weiss briefly reviewed a case in Maryland. He will provide more information as he receives this.

Dr. McNamara reported that the Texas case is moving forward. However, AAEM was denied standing since the judge ruled this was a contractual matter. Although contracts are sealed by the court, depositions are not. We are awaiting the outcome.

Dr. McNamara also reported that the case that had been referred to the Pennsylvania Medical Society was going through their process. He had participated in a call with their board of directors. A decision should be made by October.

Healthcare Professionals Subcouncil of HHS

Dr. Scaletta reported that AAEM had been asked to appoint a representative to the Healthcare Professionals Subcouncil of HHS. He asked board members to recommend possible candidates to him. Approval for two will be sought to serve on the Subcouncil. No transportation expenses will be provided. The two representatives must be aware that they are not spokespersons for AAEM, but a conduit of information with clearly defined parameters.

EM Working Group

Dr. Scaletta reported that the EM Working Group had been dissolved. It is possible that a new group may be formed. Dr. Scaletta will also call Dr. Blum to receive a response from ACEP regarding AAEM’s proposal to combine lobbying efforts. The board discussed the second component of the proposal regarding state unified membership.

Copyright Policy

The board then reviewed the draft copyright policy included in the agenda materials. Dr. Blumstein moved and Dr. Rodgers seconded that the following copyright policy be adopted:

Policy on Use of Copyrighted Materials by Faculty in Materials Developed for Educational Activities Sponsored by the AAEM

This Policy is delivered to each faculty member of an AAEM-sponsored educational activity. Compliance with this Policy is a condition to the faculty member’s participation in such an AAEM-sponsored activity.

Background

Visual presentations—delivered via PowerPoint, 35mm slides, or other technologies—and handouts are essential components to quality continuing medical education. It is not uncommon for faculty members preparing such presentations and materials for use in activities sponsored by an educational organization such as the AAEM to include therein limited materials copyrighted by another party.

Although limited use of limited portions of copyrighted materials of others may be permissible under applicable copyright law, it is the policy of the AAEM to exercise utmost effort to respect the proprietary rights of authors and other creators of medical education works in AAEM-sponsored Activities.

FOR LIVE EVENTS

Policies and Requirements

AAEM requires that faculty members preparing visual presentations, handouts and other materials for use in connection with live activities sponsored by the AAEM be aware of the following policies:

1. Faculty members of AAEM-sponsored live events must refrain from incorporating materials copyrighted by others whenever possible unless: (A) The faculty member is satisfied that the amount of such copyrighted work and the nature of its use is permissible as a “fair use” (see the Exhibit A to this Policy); or (B) The written permission of the author or other copyright holder is first obtained to the use of such materials for such an AAEM-sponsored activity.

2. When copyrighted material of others are used as described in Item 1, above, the faculty member must cite the source of the copyrighted material which must include a valid copyright notice (i.e., “Copyright © 2003. John Doe, M.D.”) as well as the phrase, “Reprinted with permission of the copyright owner.”

FOR ENDURING MATERIALS (i.e., webcasts, CD-ROMs, newsletters)

Policies and Requirements

AAEM requires that faculty members preparing visual presentations, handouts and other materials for use in connection with enduring materials (i.e., webcasts, CD-ROMs, newsletter) sponsored by the AAEM be aware of the following policies:

1. Faculty members of AAEM-sponsored enduring materials must refrain from incorporating materials copyrighted by others whenever possible unless the written permission of the author or other copyright holder is first obtained to the use of such materials.

2. When copyrighted material of others are used as described in Item 1, above, the faculty member must cite the source of the copyrighted material which must include a valid copyright notice (i.e., “Copyright © 2003. John Doe, M.D.”) as well as the phrase, “Reprinted with permission of the copyright owner.”

3. Prior to use or publication of such enduring materials, faculty members must also provide AAEM with proof that the appropriate permission has been obtained from the copyright holders of any copyrighted materials of others that are used in or incorporated into the faculty member’s presentations and/or handouts.

MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

At this time, Dr. McNamara left the call.

By consensus, since a date for a fall in-person board meeting could not be found, the board will meet via conference call. The executive committee will meet in person.

Pneumonia Guidelines Approval

Per the new process for guidelines approval, the AAEM board has been sent the draft pneumonia guidelines. Dr. Blumstein will forward a section that he believes should be added. The paper will be submitted to JEM for peer review.

Critical Care Section

The board reviewed the Critical Care Section bylaws submitted for approval. There were a number of questions regarding this section. Ms. Whalen will ask the committee for clarification on several issues.

New Business

There being no new business, the conference call meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,

Kay Whalen
Executive Director