Message from the Chair - Rebuilding New Orleans
Rebuilding New Orleans
Ashley E. Booth, MD
The 2006 Scientific Assembly in New Orleans was a huge success. The number of participants at Scientific Assembly may not have broken records but it remains a huge success because the American College of Emergency Physicians was one of the first major conventions to return to the city of New Orleans since hurricane Katrina.
It was also a homecoming for me. I was born and raised just outside of New Orleans, and I attended medical school at Louisiana State University Health Science Center (LSUHSC) in New Orleans. My family still lives just forty miles outside the city, and while Scientific Assembly was not my first return to New Orleans since Katrina, it was the first time I have spent an extended amount of time downtown in the city I called home for four years.
We all saw the devastation that hurricane Katrina wrought on the city. I remember driving my rental car down Poydras street on my way to meet my parents for dinner early one evening and looking up at one of the high-rise building while stopped at a red-light. Every window from the eighth floor and higher was missing. I remember thinking that even a year after Katrina there was still just plywood in hundreds of windows in this 30+ story building. I also had a surreal moment when I drove past my grandparent's driveway twice before I realized that I could no longer recognize the driveway of the house my grandparents have lived in for over 60 years.
We saw our emergency medicine colleagues providing health care in the downtown area from a former Lord and Taylor department store since Charity and University hospitals remained closed. However, we also saw the rebuilding that is taking place and it was great to be a part of the re-growth.
As usual Scientific Assembly offered an impressive selection of courses to participants. There were over 300 educational meetings, multiple work shops including a nationally recognized course on airway management, the highly successful Research Forum, numerous special interest forums of discussion, committee and section meetings as well as two days of Council meetings.
This year's Council meeting was fairly uncontentious. However the quality of debate and the skill with which these complicated meetings were run was as extraordinary as in past years. Council Speaker Todd Taylor, MD, FACEP, and Vice-Speaker Bruce MacLeod, MD, FACEP, are both to be commended for an excellent Council meeting.
One of the most highly debated issues was a resolution co-sponsored by YPS that proposed a designated voting Board position for a young physician (first 10 years of practice). There were a tremendous number of young physicians present at both the reference committee meeting as well as the Council meeting and taking an active role in the debate of this resolution. The resolution received strong support during the vote but was defeated. I would encourage anyone who has never attended to sincerely think about attending a Council meeting. It is a significant time commitment, but one that is well worth the effort.
Angela Fisher, MD, the section's alternate Councilor, served as the voting YPS Councilor during this year's Council meeting due to Dr. Brian Krakover's current military deployment. There were a significant number of resolutions, discussions and interesting outcomes to this year's Council debate.
In addition to the designated young physician Board position resolution there were two other highly debated resolutions. One was a resolution proposing ACEP develop a policy statement which states "the ED medical director and chair should have oversight over all aspects of the practice of emergency medicine in an ED". The second was a resolution proposing that the ACEP Board revise the policy "Medical Screening of Emergency Department Patients" to state that "ACEP strongly opposes deferral of care for patients presenting to the ED; and that in situations in which it is required that patients be deferred, very specific and concrete standards must be adopted by the hospital to ensure patient access to an alternative setting and timely, appropriate treatment". Both of these resolutions were adopted by the Council.
Other resolutions adopted by the Council include that:
- ACEP explore ways to provide the Lifelong Learning Self-Assessment (LLSA) readings to its membership;
- ACEP video archive and make available to its members historically important events;
- notice for the annual meeting is not required;
- ACEP create a policy stating the ultimate responsibility for admitted patients rest with the admitting physician;
- ACEP develop a position paper defining optimal emergency care related to the "front end" processing of patients;
- ACEP study the impact of availability of psychiatric beds on EDs;
- ACEP provide guidance to states and chapters to respond to issues related to psychiatric patients and patients seeking treatment for substance abuse;
- ACEP advocate for Certified Emergency Nurses in the ED;
- ACEP modify their existing clinical policy regarding procedural sedation and analgesia in the ED to state that emergency nurses are trained qualified personnel to administer all agents for procedural sedation under the direct supervision of emergency physicians and that ACEP oppose efforts by other professional organizations or nursing boards to restrict the supervised administration of sedating agents by emergency nurses;
- ACEP supports the collection of forensic evidence (performance of evidentiary examinations) by specially educated and clinically trained personnel when available and supports the development and funding of additional Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE)/Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) programs;
- ACEP develop a national plan to restore on-call services; and
- ACEP publicize the names of its members that provide egregious testimony.
I formally assumed the role of chair for the Section of Young Physicians (YPS). My predecessor, Keith Borg, MD, PhD, did a wonderful job over the last year as chair. In assuming the role of chair, I made a commitment to the members of this section to continue the work that Dr. Borg and his predecessors have started and to continue to advance YPS's role within the college.
YPS continues to grow as a section. The section's annual meeting at Scientific Assembly had a record attendance. Members from all parts of the country attended. We had representation from urban centers, academic medicine, newly formed democratic groups, larger practice groups and rural medicine practices. The Emergency Medicine Residents' Association (EMRA) representatives were present, as well as a newly elected board member Alex Roseneau, DO, FACEP, and our Board Liaison Linda Lawrence, MD, FACEP. A special thanks goes out to our invaluable staff liaison Marjorie Geist without whom I personally, as well as YPS, would get nothing accomplished. Dr. Lawrence and John C. Proctor, MD, MBA, FACEP, both gave outstanding talks on leadership development.
During the YPS section meeting Kelly Gray-Eurom, MD, FACEP, reported on the status of the medical director's survey. The medical director's survey group has developed a quantitative survey that will soon be sent out to medical directors across the country to identify gaps in young physicians' skill sets as they transition from residency into successful practice.
Dr. Borg and I also reported on the chapter survey from two years ago. After a discussion with the section members present, the YPS leadership has decided to repeat the survey this year to ascertain if the efforts of the YPS have had an impact on state chapters and if the state chapter's policies regarding young physicians have changed since the previous survey. It was noted that the Pennsylvania and Illinois chapters are actively addressing young physician participation and mentoring, and the YPS commends their efforts. I will be appointing a chapter survey committee to conduct a follow up survey.
In addition to the chapter survey and steering committee I am re-appointing a Web site committee to revise the section's Web site.
I am also appointing a committee to help YPS leadership develop an interactive leadership course specifically for young physicians that would be conducted at the annual leadership and advocacy conference.
Anyone interested in serving on any committee please email me at youngphy.section@acsp.org.
Other business included an announcement that EMRA, with the help of YPS, has developed a mini- fellowship in healthcare policy. ACEP is funding two fellowships this year. Any young physician is eligible to apply. Information as well as the application for the fellowship is available on the EMRA Web site, www.emra.org.
Two other discussions took place during the YPS meeting. The first discussion centered around tracking young physician involvement on state and national committees and establishing a grass roots effort to get young physicians involved at the chapter level as Council delegates and Board members. I am asking the YPS membership to please email me at youngphy.section@acsp.org if you currently serve on ANY CHAPTER or NATIONAL ACEP COMMITTEE.
The second discussion focused on the retention of young physicians in organized medicine. YPS is going to develop a new informational series, addressing the needs and concerns of emergency physicians in years three through five of practice that parallels our current In Transition series for graduating residents. If anyone has any suggestions on topics they would like covered or if anyone would like to contribute please email me at the youngphy.section@acsp.org.
Finally, we had new officer elections and the meeting concluded with the presentation of a plaque to Dr. Borg for his service as chair. A tremendous amount was accomplished in a fairly short time frame. I wasn't kidding about YPS continuing to grow, and there is more to come. This promises to be an exciting year. I look forward to working with you as we forge ahead.
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YPS Yearbook - Members from the Past...Where Are They Now?
YPS Member: Rebecca Bollinger Parker, MD, FACEP
Medical School: Northwestern University
Residency: Texas Tech - El Paso/Thomason Hospital
YPS Membership: Since 1998
Current Job Title: ED Medical Director, Advocate Trinity Hospital, Chicago, IL
Current ACEP positions:
Chair ACEP Coding and Nomenclature Advisory Committee
Illinois Chapter Board of Directors member
Chair ICEP Educational Meetings Committee
Illinois Councillor
Former ACEP positions:
EMRA Secretary and Board Member
Editor EM Resident and Web site Editor
ORR Emergency Medicine Representative
Texas Chapter Board of Directors Member
Chair TCEP Education Committee
Councillor EMRA and TCEP
Chair ACEP YPS
Member ACEP Council Steering Committee
Advice to young physicians:
I found my involvement in state and national ACEP very helpful. I learned a great deal about a myriad of topics, developed leadership skills, and met numerous mentors and life-long friends. You can get involved as much or as little as you want to. I suggest start by attending your state chapter meetings, state board meetings, and/or any state committees you are interested in. Let your chapter executive and chapter president know you are interested in becoming involved. You can become involved easily with the ACEP Council meeting by volunteering to be an alternate councillor. Often there are open alternate councillor spots for states, and you can become involved easily this way. Also, remember any member can attend the Council meeting, testify at reference committees, and remember it only takes two members to sponsor a resolution for the ACEP Council to consider. My advice: get involved. You won't regret it.
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ACEP Structure, Leadership and Member Participation
Ashley E. Booth, MD
Chair, YPS
Several YPS members came up to me after our meeting at Scientific Assembly and asked me what a councillor was and what a resolution was. It hit me that younger physicians who are new to organized medicine might not have a clear picture of how ACEP is organized.
You can learn a lot About ACEP on its Web site. ACEP is comprised of it members. ACEP's national leadership includes the Board of Directors, the Council, Committees, and Sections. Most state chapters parallel this leadership model; local leadership is found in the State Chapters. All these entities are made up of ACEP members, and there are opportunities to participate. YPS's booklet, ACEP 101: A Guide for Young Physicians, describes the ACEP membership structure, its Council structure, its processes and ways for you to get involved.
The Council, comprised of representatives from each state chapter, section, as well as EMRA, meets annually before Scientific Assembly. The Council significantly influences actions of the College through its resolutions. As an ACEP member, you may voice your opinion on the Council, through your state chapter, and any sections to which you belong. Any two members can sponsor a resolution, even if they are not a councillor. Each year Council resolutions are published online prior to Scientific Assembly, along with a list of all councillors, including your state councillor, whom you may contact to voice your opinions. If you are attending the Council meeting you may testify at any of the reference committees and voice your opinions. The reference committees are smaller committees, composed of Council members, who listen to testimony on each resolution brought to the Council. To improve the chances of acceptance, sponsors of resolutions should attend the reference committee meeting and discuss the resolution. The Councillors will decide and are usually influenced by reference committee testimony.
The reference committee then makes recommendations to the Council if the resolutions should be adopted, not adopted or sent to the Board of Directors.
Another way to get involved in ACEP is through participation on committees. ACEP committees are groups of members appointed by the president to assist the Board of Directors in its work. Committees are work groups with specific responsibilities assigned by the president. Committee members serve for a specific period of time and are accountable to the president for achievement of assigned objectives.
ACEP committees include:
- Academic Affairs Committee
- Audit Committee
- Awards Committee
- Bylaws Committee
- Bylaws Interpretation Committee
- Clinical Policies Committee
- Coding & Nomenclature Advisory Committee
- Compensation Committee
- Education Committee
- Emergency Medical Services Committee
- Emergency Medicine Practice Committee
- Ethics Committee
- Federal Government Affairs Committee
- Finance Committee
- Medical-Legal Committee
- Membership Committee
- National Chapter Relations Committee
- Pediatric Emergency Medicine Committee
- Public Health Committee
- Public Relations Committee
- Quality and Performance Committee
- Reimbursement Committee
- Research Committee
- Scientific Review Committee
- Section Affairs Committee
- State Legislative/Regulatory Committee
- Trauma Care and Injury Control Committee
- Well-being Committee
Finally, a great way to get involved, learn more about the College, and expand your horizons, especially for young physicians, is through sections.
ACEP sections include:
- Air Medical Transport
- American Association of Women EPs
- Careers in Emergency Medicine
- Certification Process and Implications for EM
- Critical Care Medicine
- Cruise Ship & Maritime Medicine
- Democratic Group Practice
- Disaster Medicine
- EM Informatics
- EM Practice Management & Health Policy
- EM Research
- Emergency Ultrasound
- EMS-Prehospital Care
- Forensic Medicine
- Geriatric Medicine
- Hyperbaric Medicine
- International Emergency Medicine
- Medical Humanities
- Pediatric Emergency Medicine
- Quality Improvement & Patient Safety
- Rural Emergency Medicine
- Short-term Observation Services
- Sports Medicine
- Tactical Medicine
- Toxicology
- Trauma and Injury Prevention
- Wellness
- Wilderness Medicine
- Young Physicians
Do you want to make a difference in the issues affecting your patients and emergency medicine? Get involved and influence ACEP's political agenda at both national and state levels. Be active in the College. ACEP is a large organization, and there are many opportunities for individuals to participate. The College is its members, and depends on you to affect positive changes. For members, it's an opportunity to contribute, learn, and network.
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AMPAC Candidate Workshop
Janice Robertson
Each year the AMA/AMPAC offers two outstanding courses: the AMPAC Candidate Workshop and the AMPAC Campaign School. For anyone thinking of running for public office or anyone thinking of becoming more involved in the political process these two courses may be something you are interest in pursuing. More information follows below.
AMPAC Candidate Workshop
February 16-18, 2007
Arlington, VA
Every year, physicians, physician spouses and other friends of medicine come to the same realization: doctors' clinical knowledge is not enough to help their patients; medicine also requires political effectiveness. Therefore, dozens of physicians and their spouses seek public office at various levels across the United States each year. The Candidate Workshop is designed to help you make the leap from the exam room to the campaign trail, to give you the skills and strategic approach you will need to make a run for public office.
At the Candidate Workshop, Republican and Democratic political veterans give you expert advice about politics and the sacrifices needed to mount a competitive campaign. You will learn: how and when to make the decision to run; the importance of a disciplined campaign plan and message; the secrets of effective fundraising; what kinds of media advertising are right for your campaign; how to handle the inevitable crises that emerge for every campaign; the role of your spouse and your family; and how to become a better public speaker. Get answers to your questions, and determine if running for public office is for you.
Campaigning is a family affair, so we encourage your spouse to apply as well.
For more information, email politicaleducation@ama-assn.org or call 202-789-7465.
AMPAC Campaign School
April 18-22, 2007
Arlington, VA
Every year, physicians and friends of medicine look at the liability, payment, and scope-of-practice crises and realize that involvement in the political process is no longer a luxury; it is a necessity. Recognized as one of the top programs in the country, this comprehensive program will mold you into a winning political strategist and help you elect friends of medicine.
The Campaign School is renowned for its use of a simulated campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives, complete with demographics, voting statistics and candidate biographies.
Participants are broken into campaign "staff" teams, and augment the instruction they receive during the day with nightly exercises in strategy, vote targeting, advertising and public speaking. Insider tactics are taught by experts from both sides of the political spectrum. These professionals are the experts currently advising campaigns at every level around the country.
Attendees include physicians, spouses of physicians, residents and medical students interested in becoming more involved in politics. Participants range from those attracted to grassroots efforts to those considering becoming a candidate for public office.
During the five days, you will develop a new understanding of how campaigns are run. As a graduate of the AMPAC program, candidates will rely on you to give them advice on strategy, message and campaign plans.
For more information, e-mail politicaleducation@ama-assn.org or call (202) 789-7465.
Additional information about these and other AMPAC political education programs is available online at http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/6275.html
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Eight Pillars of Investment Wisdom
Randy S. Kurland, CPA, MBA, PFS
J. Kevin Bing, CPA, MBA
You've heard the get-rich-quick stories. How someone won the lottery, started a wildly successful business, or made a "killing" in the stock market.
Is this how real people get money for retirement? The truth is, many people who retire in comfort build their nest egg with slow and steady care. Deciding to save regularly is a crucial first step. Sticking to a savings plan is certainly another. Starting early can help your money grow faster. Let these eight pillars of investment wisdom be your guide.
1. Pay Yourself First
You're probably already following this advice by participating in your company's retirement savings plan. But are you contributing to the fullest extent allowable? Remember that you could live in retirement for 25 years or more without any salary income. It could take a substantial amount of savings to carry you through for that long. If you have contributed the maximum to your qualified retirement plan, talk to your financial professional about other types of automatic savings/investment plans.
2. Start Early
Compounded growth can work wonders for your savings-provided you give it time. Let's say, for example, that you begin saving $100 a month at age 35. Compounded monthly at a hypothetical 8%† per year, your savings can grow to $149,036 by age 65. Pretty good, right? You can do better. Begin saving ten years earlier and the same $100 a month can grow to $349, 101 - more than twice as much!
†This hypothetical rate does not reflect the performance of any specific investment. Individual investor results will vary.
3. Invest to Outpace Inflation
A common mistake is to play it too safe. Yes, it is relatively safe to invest in a guaranteed investment contract.* But inflation could steadily erode your earnings. Remember that saving for retirement is a long-term endeavor.
*A Guaranteed Investment Contract is an insurance contract that guarantees the owner principal repayment and a fixed or floating interest rate for predetermined period of time.
4. Diversify**
Professional investors allocate their money among different kinds of asset classes: money market funds, bonds and stocks. Within these asset classes, you may want to diversify further-for example, by investing in some stocks that have high growth potential and others that pay dividends, or some stocks of smaller companies and some blue chips. Your financial professional can help you determine the suitable amount to put into various asset classes, depending on your age, your risk tolerance, your time horizon and your goals. By sticking to an asset allocation plan***, you limit your risk of exposure to just one asset class and are positioned to take advantage of market shifts.
**Diversification does not eliminate the risk of experiencing investment losses.
***Asset allocation is a method of diversification which positions assets among major investment categories. This tool may be used in an effect to manage risk and enhance returns. However, it does not guarantee a profit or protect against loss.
5. Invest According to Your Time Horizon
Growth-oriented investments (such as small cap stock funds) tend to be more volatile over short periods. These are good investments to emphasize when you have many years ahead of you. As you get closer to retirement, you have less time to recover from dips in the market. You may want to shift some assets into investments that tend to be more stable. But don't forget that you may need to live off your retirement funds for many years. Investing for some growth potential in your portfolio is usually a good idea.
6. Avoid Dipping Into Your Tax-Deferred Savings
You'll net less than you think because the withdrawn funds become taxable income. And in many instances you could face an additional 10% federal tax penalty if you are not yet age 59 1/2. Plus, any money you spend now is money you won't have later. And you could miss out on years of compounded earnings. If you need the money temporarily, it may be a good decision to take a plan loan (if permitted) and repay it promptly.
7. Avoid Trying to Time the Market
When the market is hot, many people are tempted to play the stock market with their retirement savings. If you're one of them, consider setting aside a small amount that you can afford to lose and use this "allowance" to play the market. For the bulk of your retirement investments, stick to your asset allocation plan**. Don't shift funds from one account to another simply because one showed higher returns. Performance in the immediate past is no indicator of the long-term future. The market frequently undergoes sudden and dramatic shifts. Last quarter's hot investment fund often can cool off in the next quarter.
Even if you are clever enough, or lucky enough, to switch out of stocks ahead of a downturn, you could very well be late in identifying the recovery. By the time your new choice is put into effect, you may have missed the benefits you'd hoped to reap.
8. Think Long Term
Don't be alarmed by day-to-day swings in the stock market. For most of us, steady investing, compounded earnings and maintaining a planned asset allocation** are the keys to successful retirement planning. Decide on an appropriate long-term mix of investments and try to stay the course. You may not build your nest egg in a day but Rome wasn't built that way, either.
For more information about establishing a financial plan, contact your financial professional.
Copyright 2004. Reprinted with permission. All rights reserved. AXA Advisors, LLC does not provide legal or tax advice. Please consult your tax or legal advisor regarding your individual situation.
GE-28509 (10/04) (Exp. 10/06)
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YPS's Guide to the Lifelong Learning and Self Assessment
(LLSA) 2007 - Part One
Kristi Grall, MD
YPS Newsletter Editor
Hello young physician section! This is the first article in a series that will help guide you through the entire LLSA 2007 process, including who needs to take which LLSA tests, when to "get it done," how to take an exam, and a review of the 2007 test articles.
Most of the content of this article comes from the American Board of Emergency Medicine's (ABEM) Web site, www.abem.org, where there is a link to the Emergency Medicine Continuous Certification (EMCC) and LLSA sites. This article will start with frequently asked questions (FAQs) and the answers to start you on your way. So without further ado…
What is the LLSA? Why do these exams exist?
The LLSA was created to encourage board certified physicians to initiate and continue a lifelong learning regimen even after their residency was completed, hence the "lifelong" part of it. Each year, ABEM identifies a list of twelve to sixteen recent emergency medicine articles to keep your brain on its toes and keep you at the "cutting edge" of your practice (well, sort of). There is actually a cyclical, nine year curriculum based on the "Model of Clinical Practice in Emergency Medicine" to which these articles relate. ABEM creates a thirty two to forty question test based on the annual readings.
Who needs to take this test?
You need to take and pass at least eight LLSA tests prior to renewing your ABEM certificate. In other words, you need to take a test in at least eight of the ten years that your ABEM certification is in effect. If you are not sure, you can always sign in to EMCC Online and select "Check EMCC Status" from the quick links on your EMCC personal page.
What is the test like?
The test is an open book test. Each LLSA test consists of thirty two to forty multiple choice questions. Each question has a single best answer. You need 90% correct responses to pass the test.
What if I fail the test?
Don't worry! You have three opportunities to pass the test (and if you somehow don't pass you can pay a fee and re-register to take the test again).
How long do I have to take the test?
You can log in and out as many times as you need until you finish a test. According to ABEM, each test will remain online for three whole years! So you have three years to take the test.
What are the 2007 articles about?
This year's articles cover the two content areas: "Signs, Symptoms, and Presentations" and "Psychobehavioral Disorders." In addition about half the readings come from the remaining content areas of the EM Model Listing of Conditions and Components. Here is a quick listing of this year's articles. Most of these can be accessed directly via hyperlink from the ABEM Web site. Check it out!
Content area 1: Signs, Symptoms and Presentations:
- Cardall T, Glasser J, Guss DA. Clinical Value of the Total white Blood Cell Count and Temperature in the Evaluation of Patients with Suspected Appendicitis. Acad Emerg Med, Oct 2004;11(10):1021-1027.
- Chapman DM, Char DM, Aubin CD. Clinical Decision Making. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice, ed 6. 2006, pp 125-133.
- Hohl CM, Robitaille C, Lord V, et al. Emergency Physician Recognition of Adverse Drug Related Evens in Elder Patients Presenting to an Emergency Department. Acad Emerg Med, Mar 2005;12(3):197-205.
- ACEP Clinical Policies Committee and the Clinical Policies Subcommittee on Early Pregnancy, Clinical Policy: Critical Issues in the Initial Evaluation and Management of Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department in Early Pregnancy. Ann Emerg Med. Jan 2003;41(1):123-133.
- Sinert R, Spektor M. Clinical Assessment of Hypovolemia. Ann Emerg Med. Mar 200r;45(3):327-329.
- Wang CS, FitzGerald JM, Schulzer M, et al. Does this Dyspneic Patient in the Emergency Department have Congestive Heart Failure? JAMA. Oct 2005;294(15): 1944-1956
Content Area 14. Psychobehavioral Disorders
- Doshi A, Boudreaux ED, Wang N, et al. National study of US emergency department visits for attempted suicide and self-inflicted injury, 1997-2001. Ann Emerg Med. Oct 2005;46(4):369-375.
- Mello MJ, Nirenberg TD, Longabaugh R, et al. Emergency department brief motivational interventions for alcohol with motor vehicle crash patients. Ann Emerg Med. June 2005;45(6):620-625.
- Knight JR. A 35-year-old physician with opioid dependence. JAMA. Sept 2004;292(11):1351-1357.
- Freedman R. Schizophrenia. N Engl J Med. Oct 2003;349(18):1738-1749.
- Fricchione G. Generalized anxiety disorder. N Engl J Med. Aug 2004;351(7):675-682.
- Director TD, Linden JA. Domestic violence: an approach to identification and intervention. Emerg Med Clin N Am. 2004;22:1117-1132.
Content Area 3. Cardiovascular Disorders
- Gibler WB, Cannon CP, Blomkalns AL, et al. Practical implementation of the guidelines for unstable angina/non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction in the emergency department. Ann Emerg Med. Aug 2005;46(2):185-197, WITH accompanying editorial:
- Fesmire FM, Jagoda A. Are we putting the cart ahead of the horse: who determines the standard of care for the management of patients in the emergency department? Ann Emerg Med. Aug 2005;46(2):198-200.
- Sackner-Bernstein JD, Kowalski M, Fox M, et al. Short-term risk of death after treatment with nesiritide for decompensated heart failure. JAMA. April 2005;293(15):1900-1905.
Content Area 4. Cutaneous Disorders
- Mills AM, Chen EH. Are blood cultures necessary in adults with cellulitis? Ann Emerg Med. May 2005;45(5):548-549.
- Frazee BW, Lynn J, Charlebois ED, et al. High prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in emergency department skin and soft tissue infections. Ann Emerg Med. Mar 2005;45(3):311-320.
Content Area 15. Renal and Urogenital Disorders
- Venkat KK, Venkat A. Care of the renal transplant recipient in the emergency department. Ann Emerg Med. Oct 2004;44(4):330-341.
Content Area 19. Procedures and Skills Integral to the Practice of Emergency Medicine
- Costantino TG, Parikh AK, Satz WA, et al. Ultrasonography-guided peripheral intravenous access versus traditional approaches in patients with difficult intravenous access. Ann Emerg Med. Nov 2005;46(5):456-461.
When can I take the 2007 test?
Hold your horses! The 2007 LLSA test won't even be posted on the ABEM site until April. There will be online registration available when the test is available. For now, read the articles, sit back, and learn something!
Stay tuned for further installments of the YPS Guide to the LLSA 2007!
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Dr. Linda Lawrence Elected as ACEP President-Elect
Kelly Gray-Eurom, MD, FACEP
Linda Lawrence, MD |
The Council elected Linda L. Lawrence, MD, FACEP, as President-elect.
Dr. Lawrence is the second woman to be elected to this position and is eminently qualified to lead our College. She is residency trained and board certified in our specialty. She is the Chief Emergency Medicine Consultant to the Air Force Surgeon General and Chief of the Medical Staff at David Grant Medical Center at Travis Air Force Base in California. She has served as an ACEP Council member since her early training days and has been active throughout her career in both the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM) and the American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM). She was elected to the ACEP Board in 2002, where she has held officer positions of Secretary-Treasurer and Vice President.
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Dr. Lawrence gave an inspiring speech on the Council floor as she addressed the Council members, the Board, and assembled guests. She spoke of preparedness, the need to move the College to the next level, and of her ability to serve the College as the media spokesperson. "We need to make the media understand our issues… we are sitting with bases loaded and I want to be your designated hitter to bring home the grand slam and finish what we started."
Dr. Lawrence has served as the Board Liaison to the YPS for the past two years. We will miss her as our Board liaison but wish her the best of luck in her new role as President-Elect.
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Section Connection
Quality Improvement and Patient Safety Section (QTIPS)
Angela Franklin, Esq.
ACEP Director of Quality and Health IT
Quality Course at Spring Congress
If you are an ED administrator, the quality person, or just a practicing clinical physician or nurse, you are involved in quality to an extent. If you are not practicing quality emergency medicine, you will probably be out of business soon so ignore this brief article. Quality is something we all want to do and it is something our patients demand. So why doesn't quality happen all the time?
The Quality Improvement and Patient Safety Section is offering the first of its kind "Quality Course" at this year's Spring Congress in San Diego. The course will be held on April 25, 2007, from 2:30 to 6:30pm. If you are registered for the Spring Congress, there is no additional charge.
Who should take this course? Anyone working in ED quality, new graduates, nurses, and anyone who wants to learn how not to end up on the wrong end of a quality review should take this course. There will be four one-hour sessions on the following topics:
- The Case Review
- Data Collection and Analysis
- Fixing Systems to Improve Outcome
- Panel Discussion on Proven Success Stories
The lectures will be case- based and practical. We all get plenty of lectures on theory and error reduction. This course is designed to be practical and hands -on. When you leave you should be able to design an ED quality program or re-tool an already existing one. We have commitments from some of the best and brightest in the College as faculty.
Please send along your quality people, nurses, physicians, and mid-level providers. All are welcome.
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YPS Officers
Please join the membership of the Section of Young Physicians in congratulating the newly elected 2006 - 2007 YPS Officers & Steering Committee.
YPS Officers:
Chair: Ashley E. Booth, MD
Chair-elect: Abhi Mehrotra, MD, FACEP
Immediate Past Chair: Keith Borg, MD, PhD, FACEP
Secretary /In Transition Editor: Ira Nemeth, MD, FACEP
Councillor: Jennifer Wiler, MD
Alternate Councillor: Ericka Powell, MD
YPS Newsletter Editor: Kristi Grall, MD
Board Liaison: Nicholas J. Jouriles MD, FACEP
Steering Committee:
Kelly Gray-Eurom, MD, FACEP
Rebecca Parker, MD, FACEP
Jeremy Rogers, MD
YPS Officers
Thank you for your continued efforts.
The membership of the Section of Young Physicians gratefully acknowledges the hard work and dedication of the 2005 - 2006 YPS Officers.
YPS Officers:
Chair: Keith Borg, MD, PhD
Chair-elect: Ashley E. Booth, MD,
Immediate Past Chair: Kelly Gray-Eurom, MD, FACEP
Newsletter Editor: Daniel Handel, MD
Councillor: Brian Krakover, MD
Alternate Councillor: Angela Siler Fisher, MD
Board Liaison: Linda L. Lawrence, MD, FACEP
Thank you for your service to the Section of Young Physicians and to the College.
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This publication is designed to promote communication among emergency physicians of a basic informational nature only. While ACEP provides the support necessary for these newsletters to be produced, the content is provided by volunteers and is in no way an official ACEP communication. ACEP makes no representations as to the content of this newsletter and does not necessarily endorse the specific content or positions contained therein. ACEP does not purport to provide medical, legal, business, or any other professional guidance in this publication. If expert assistance is needed, the services of a competent professional should be sought. ACEP expressly disclaims all liability in respect to the content, positions, or actions taken or not taken based on any or all the contents of this newsletter.
