PENNSYLVANIA COLLEGE OF EMERGENCY PHYSICIANS MARCH 2017
Executive Privilege Merle A. Carter, MD, FACEP PACEP President It’s hard to believe that another year has passed, and that my term as your president is almost over. It has been both an exciting and taxing year as we continue to fight against what we felt were injustices against emergency medicine and those we serve. We’ve accomplished a great deal as a chapter and as a specialty. Much of the work has been behind the scenes—much of it strategic in nature, but all has been in an effort to ensure our patients have access to the care and expertise they deserve, and that emergency physicians have representation that also protects their interests. The ultimate goal is improving the health and safety of the citizens of Pennsylvania, and to preserve the interests of our specialty. The Board made some difficult budgetary decisions this year to ensure continued financial stability of the chapter. I am happy to report that these decisions have been successful and have strengthened our chapter’s financial future. We also set a myriad of goals for this last year in addition to our legislative priorities, including increasing member engagement. Many of you have signed up for committees and have already been a tremendous asset to the chapter bringing new, and innovative ideas to our work and vision. This new energy is palpable, and we’re excited about the new initiatives being planned this year. New members have even offered to start new committees—please stay tuned for more information and how to get involved! If you have a special interest or an idea for a new committee or initiative, let us know! Our legislative priorities for this session continue to include balance billing, opioid legislation and warm hand offs to addiction aftercare, violence against healthcare workers, as well as “clear and convincing” legislation for liability protection. We engaged and met with members on “both sides of the aisle”. The insurance
commissioner and her staff, the governor and his staff, and Pennsylvania’s emergency physicians continue have an important seat at the table in these important discussions that other specialties do not have. We’ve walked the delicate line where the priorities of the law and medicine were not always aligned, and where lines in the sand and diplomacy had to co-exist. We are pleased to have developed relationships with key lawmakers and their staff. We are often on their list of “first calls” when considering legislation that impacts the house of medicine. I am proud of our work and the role PACEP has played in the legislature this year. The Governmental Affairs Committee, under the tireless leadership of Dr. Erik Kochert, deserves special praise for all of the work they have done this year. They have been firm, but diplomatic representatives in working with the legislature this year to protect your interests and those of your patients. I encourage all PACEP members to participate, engage, support, and share their ideas and opinions, listen and learn from each other, and help the organization to continue to grow and to be an effective voice for emergency medicine and the patients we serve. Don’t forget that board meetings are open to members. You are always welcome to attend! Leadership is shown in many ways, and at all levels of any organization or group. An important quality that shines in a leader is the willingness to serve unselfishly continued on page 3
Contents PACEP 17 Scientific Assembly........................................... 4 PACEP 17 Scientific Assembly: April 5th.......................... 5 PACEP 17 Scientific Assembly: April 6th.......................... 7 PACEP 17 Scientific Assembly: April 7th.......................... 9 Emergency Department Warm Handoff Clinical Pathway is Unveiled........................................................11 Legislative Update............................................................. 12 Physician, Heal Thy Specialty!.......................................13 New Faces on the Hill; Invite Them to Your ED!...........15