Five Things You’ll Learn From ACOEP’s Mass Casualty Incident Simulation This Month
Stephanie Davis, DO, FACOEP Recent catastrophic events remind us all too often of the threat of mass casualty incidents (MCIs). For decades, hospital officials have conducted drills to prepare for mass casualty natural disaster events, but as mass shootings are unfortunately becoming more prevalent, many hospitals and health care systems are conducting drills to prepare for these instances as well. When these tragic and traumatizing large-scale events occur, the public expects emergency medical care to be available quickly – to save lives, to treat pain and to lessen the fear [...]
Ohio HR726 Proposed Expansion of Practice Rights to Advanced Practice Practitioners
A bill being considered before the Ohio State House of Representatives (HR726) put forth by Representative Theresa Gavarone. The bill seeks to revise and repeal certain sections of current legislation limiting the practice rights of Advanced Practice Providers, like RNS, PA, ENPs, and to allow them (in certain cases) to prescribe Schedule II controlled substances from convenience care clinics, and with clearances by licensed health professionals, to care and prescribe drugs for concussed student athletes. The concern arises because of the inadequacies of training between physicians and Advanced Care Practitioners. [...]
ACOEP Stands with AAEM and Others in Support of Physician Due Process
Christine Giesa, DO, FACOEP advocates alongside other major EM associations for physician protection. Emergency physicians are the front line of healthcare in this country, often going above and beyond to treat every person who walks through the door. As the structure surrounding emergency medicine changes, physicians are increasingly asked to waive their right to due process in standard contracts through staffing companies. This vulnerability not only leads to increased physician anxiety, but could cause a doctor to second guess themselves and ultimately make judgments based, not on what [...]
ACOEP President’s Doings
By Christine Giesa. DO, FACOEPThe core of my work as your ACOEP President and Board member is to represent you and ACOEP to the broader medical community. Your Board has been hard at work advancing our agenda and working toward positive change in emergency medicine.Here are just some of the ways in which I have worked to represent you in recent months.EDPMA SOLUTIONS SUMMIT: Lead from Where You AreI attended the EDPMA Solutions Summit. Topics of discussion included how to fight back when insurers are increasingly implementing reimbursement policies that may [...]
FOEM Focus
2018 FOEM Case Study Poster Competition Winners *Winning abstracts featured below Congratulations to the winners of FOEM's 2018 Case Study Poster Competition! Thank you to all that participated. 1st Place: Samantha Margaritas, DO from Midwestern University in Downers Grove, IL for her case Time for a Change of Pace. 2nd Place: Jacob Smith, DO from Doctor’s Hospital in Columbus, OH for his case May Thurner Syndrome: An Uncommon Cause of a Frequent Diagnosis. 3rd Place: Kevin McLendon, DO from Merit Health Wesley in Hattiesburg, MS for his case Old Timer’s [...]
ACOEP Joins Coalition to Advocate for Emergency Physicians and Patients in Texas
This Spring ACOEP joined forces to speak out against Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas and their dangerous decision to limit coverage for emergency care. Alongside the American College of Emergency Physicians, Emergency Department Practice Management Association, the National Association of Freestanding Emergency Centers, and others, ACOEP co-signed a letter strongly condemning these actions. Not only does this policy endanger Texas patients, the plan is unclear with very little information available online. BCBS-TX does little to clearly lay out how their policy will be enacted, and if out-of-network refers to [...]
Recognize an Outsanding Resident in Your ED
Calling all Program Directors! Know of a resident that you feel should be recognized for their work? Nominate them for The American Osteopathic Foundation's Outstanding Resident of the Year Award. The deadline to nominate is July 1st. Residents work hard, shoulder to shoulder with their attending mentors. It's time to recognize those who go above and beyond. Click here for more information and to submit your recommendation.
Important New Changes To ACOEP’s Member Database
ACOEP’s Member Services Department is thrilled to present our new member portal, MemberSuite. This new system features a more robust, secure platform. Today you can check your member status, and register for the Written Board Prep and Oral Board Review. Over the summer we will continuously roll out new features. In the coming months you will be able to: -Easily register for conferences -Track CME earned through ACOEP -Access to certification information -Explore a new portal for ACOEP committee involvement -Utilize a simpler process for dues renewals -Enjoy peace of [...]
Annual A-ACGME Paradigm Survey Data Collection
There’s no denying it: EM programs are changing as a direct result of changes to accreditation rules and procedures. The ACOEP-ACGME Paradigm Research Group (A-APRG) wants to know just how those changes are affecting programs. Supported by the Board of the ACOEP and is endorsed by Dr. Mancini, Chair of the Program Director’s Committee, A-ARPG has a series of questions, collecting data on the change in previously osteopathic and dual-certified programs to determine costs, quality, and satisfaction. This yearly survey is intended to provide needed information on the ACGME milestones project [...]
The Truth About Drowning
(Chicago, IL) Drowning is a major cause of death to both children and adults. Keeping families safe in the summer months is incredibly important, however, media reports continue to use the terms ‘near drowning,’ ‘dry drowning,’ and ‘secondary drowning,’ which cause unnecessary fear due to incorrect terminology. While drowning is a leading cause of preventable pediatric death, there are no medical conditions known as ‘near drowning,’ ‘dry drowning,’ or ‘secondary drowning.’ ACOEP urges the media and public to abandon use of these terms when speaking or writing about drowning as [...]
Update Regarding Proposed Bylaws Changes
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 [...]