In response to the concerns expressed by members regarding the recently proposed revision of the Bylaws, the Board of Directors of the ACOEP met on Tuesday, February 27, 2018 to review the comments and take any action necessary.

While ACOEP considers emergency nurse practitioners to be an integral part of the emergency medicine practice paradigm, we do not endorse or defend the solo unsupervised practice of these professionals. Physician extenders aid and assist emergency physicians by taking the non-critical cases and under the supervision of physicians determine patient dispositions. With these professionals, many emergency departments can provide better and more timely care to patients.

However, as the Board considered the comments regarding having non-physicians on the Board of Directors in voting positions, it was learned that the resolution was, in fact, in conflict with the Bylaws it was to amend. Section 3 of Article VII states that only Active members in all categories may serve on the Board, thus making this a moot question and nullifying the resolution.

Because there were such strongly stated concerns regarding the role of emergency nurse practitioners, we will be holding an interactive open forum in which members can discuss their concerns, whether present in San Diego or online. ACOEP will provide further details on this forum to voting members within the next week on how you can participate, as soon as arrangements are made. We invite members to take a moment and familiarize themselves with ACOEP’s official policies and position statements, including the role of non-physician practitioners in EM which will be reviewed and updated this spring.

As a physician organization, the ACOEP values the voice of its members. On behalf of the Board of Directors, I personally thank you for expressing your concerns and look forward to hearing from you at the open forum either in person or on the web.

Best wishes,

Christine F. Giesa, DO, FACOEP-D
President