ACEP board-approved policy statements highlight the scope of issues being addressed in emergency medicine. New policies are initially distributed to ACEP members via Annals of Emergency Medicine and posted here. In addition, the ACEP Board of Directors has directed that all policy statements undergo automatic review when they are seven years old. Unless a policy still contains relevant information, it will then sunset. Due to the extensive time required to review seven-year-old or older policies, some are still under review.
Provide a leadership role and involve emergency physicians in system development and evaluation to assure patient care effectiveness and cost efficiency
Support of legacy emergency physicians who seek additional training and continuing medical education
Emergency physicians are ideally situated and have the responsibility to affect the health of the public by being leaders in injury prevention and control
Guidelines for treatment of children in the ED
EMS has a pivotal role in the integration of emergency medical services for children (EMSC).
Recommended policies on telephone orders in the ED
The Tactical Emergency Medical Support (TEMS) is an essential component of military and tactical law enforcement teams
Supports for the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS)
Stand alone, single-specialty facilities not within the walls of a full-service hospital
Support for continued regulation of tobacco products and advertising
Support of Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE)/Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) programs
Support of a comprehensive school bus safety program
Recommended qualifications for sabbatical leave
Dedicated and qualified medical direction is required to ensure safe and quality patient care
Endorses Medicare funding to train residents for practice in non-urban areas
Medical error reporting for the purpose of aiding practitioners and institutions in efforts to improve patient safety
Endorses in principle federal laws, state legislation, or constitutional amendments to implement tort legal reforms
RSI is an important technique for airway management of patients in the ED
CPR training for the lay public
EDs should not attempt medical assessment or management by telephone
Qualifications for unsupervised ED care
Protect health care workers and all other persons in the ED against violent acts
Prohibition of balanced billing.
Medical liability insurance policies for emergency physicians should fully cover their duties
Prior authorization rules instituted by third party payers must not pose a barrier to patients seeking access to timely emergency care