American College of Emergency Physicians, New Jersey Chapter Committees and Task Forces
New Jersey ACEP News - Vol. II, 2002

September 2002

BYLAWS TASK FORCE
Chair: Jennifer Waxler, DO, FACOEP

1. Review current chapter bylaws and reconcile them with current ACEP bylaws.
2. Review proposed bylaw changes and submit proper wording to national ACEP.
3. Ensure that board actions follow bylaws as written.

BOARD NOMINATING/AWARDS
Chair: Mike Gerardi, MD, FACEP

1. Identify chapter leaders appropriate for Board candidacy.
2. Review credentials and statements of potential Board candidates.
3. Presenter a slate of Board of Director candidates to the membership as per the Bylaws.
4. Recommend yearly award nominees for the following categories:
   a. Distinguished Service award
   b. Clinical Expertise award
   c. EMS award
   d. Educator of the Year
   e. Legislature award
   f. Resident of the Year
   g. Medical student of the year

CODING AND REIMBURSEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Chair: Peter Sawchuk, MD

1. Prioritize coding issues and projects that bring the most value to chapter members.
2. Develop updates, educational materials, and/or seminars for the members of the Chapter on coding and reimbursement issues.
3. Assist members in addressing local carrier policies that impact emergency medicine.
4. Monitor, analyze and report on the reimbursement environment as it pertains to emergency medicine in New Jersey, and assist in positioning the Chapter appropriately on issues of importance.
5. Evaluate use of chapter grants to advance committee work.
6. Ensure goals of NJ-ACEP Strategic Plan are implemented.

EDUCATION COMMITTEE
Co-Chairs: Victor Almeida, DO, FACEP; Mark Merlin, DO, FACEP

RESEARCH SUBCOMMITTEE

1. Design, evaluate, revise and implement budgeted educational programs, including the annual meeting.
2. Design, evaluate, revise and implement two one-day educational programs a year.
3. Design a residency seminar to take place in a timely fashion for resident job preparation.
4. Monitor CME environment for emerging trends in emergency medicine; develop recommendations for new courses and future direction of existing courses.
5. Work with the research subcommittee to coordinate research activities and presentations of the Chapter.
6. Evaluate use of chapter grants to advance committee work.
7. Ensure goals of NJ-ACEP Strategic Plan are implemented.

PRACTICE MANAGEMENT
Co-Chairs: Joe Calabro, DO, FACEP; Mark Meredith, MD, FACEP

1. Review clinical policies of national ACEP and other organizations for relevance to NJ-ACEP. Abstract information and disseminate to Chapter members.
2. Review policies and answer requests from members as needed.
3. Provide recommendations that involve the direct practice of emergency medicine, including but not limited to overcrowding, EMTALA, state inspections, and mid-level practitioners.
4. Evaluate use of chapter grants to advance committee work.
5. Ensure goals of NJ-ACEP Strategic plan are implemented.

EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES
Co-Chairs: Sol Nevins, MD, FACEP; Larry DesRochers, MD, FACEP

1. Work to assure the viability and growth of EMS in New Jersey.
2. Provide leadership and input at all levels of the State system.
3. Recommend EM physician for the EMS Council; stay active with MICU Advisory Council.
4. Work to continue to secure an EM physician as Medical Consultant of the EMS Division in the Department of Health and Senior Services.
5. Work closely with the Commissioner of Health in developing a Blue Ribbon Panel or Task Force to address EMS issues in the State.
6. Evaluate use of Chapter grants to advance committee work.
7. Ensure goals of NJ-ACEP Strategic Plan are implemented.

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
Co-Chairs: William Felegi, DO, FACEP; Mark Welber, DO, FACEP

1. Analyze and recommend legislative and regulatory priorities for the State legislative sessions and develop new legislative/regulatory recommendations, as appropriate.
2. Work directly with the NJ-ACEP lobbyist in identifying issues of importance to the members of the chapter.
3. Work directly with State and Federal regulatory bodies to ensure fair treatment of all emergency physicians.
4. Report to the Executive Committee on legislative progress at every meeting.
5. Evaluate use of chapter grants to advance committee work.
6. Ensure goals of NJ-ACEP Strategic Plan are implemented.

PUBLIC RELATIONS
Co-Chairs: Bruce Bonanno, MD; Steve Katz, MD

1. Identify and implement ways of providing open communication and education between members of the Chapter and the Board of Directors.
2. Work directly with the Board of Directors in updating the NJ-ACEP website.
3. Work directly with the Executive Director in publishing a newsletter and securing written updates from each committee chair to be included in the newsletter. The Editor of the NJ-ACEP newsletter will automatically serve on the committee.
4. Identify and implement ways of providing open communication and education of the public at large on emergency medicine issues in New Jersey.
5. Evaluate use of chapter grants to advance committee work.
6. Ensure goals of NJ-ACEP Strategic Plan are implemented.

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
Chair: Manish Vig, MD, FACEP

1. Identify and implement ways of sustaining and increasing the membership of the Chapter.
2. Liaison and provide leadership roles between other groups involved in emergency medicine, including but not limited to ACOEP, ENA, physician extenders, medical specialists.
3. Recommend changes in membership dues to the Board as appropriate.
4. Evaluate other categories of membership, as recommended by ACEP.
5. Utilize statistics and data collection available from ACEP.
6. Ensure use of chapter grants to advance committee work.
7. Ensure goals of NJ-ACEP Strategic Plan are implemented.

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The State Advisory Council for Basic and Intermediate Life Support Services
New Jersey ACEP News - Vol. II, 2002

William B. Felegi, D.O., FACEP received a gubernatorial appointment to the Advisory Council for Basic & Intermediate Life Support Services as the NJ Medical Society’s President’s appointee as representative on behalf of NJ-ACEP. The Council meets quarterly and its function is to promote training, testing, certification, recertification, recruitment and retention of EMTs, based upon sound educational principles, current medical knowledge and practice, nationwide standards, guidelines and recommendations. The Council was created in a response to legislation passed in 1992 known as the “Emergency Medical Technician Training Fund Act,” which established a non-lapsing, revolving fund. The current fund balance is well over 7 million dollars and is derived from moneys collected from motor vehicle or traffic violations.

Dr. Felegi joins other Council members who include current NJ-ACEP Board of Directors member Sol Nevins, M.D., FACEP, acting in his capacity as the chairman of the NJ State MICU Advisory Council, and former NJ-ACEP Board of Directors member Joseph Imbesi, D.O., FACEP, physician public member.

Recently the Council approved funds to cover the cost of subscriptions for BLS providers to the Gold Cross, a publication by the New Jersey State First Aid Council. The magazine has a specific focus on NJ EMS, recruitment, retention, and education related articles, one specific to EMT continuing education. In related items, the Council also endorsed criteria for written media that would be eligible for funding and rescinded the restriction for reimbursement of a maximum number of CEU’s for EMTs.

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STATPAC Update
New Jersey ACEP News - Vol. II, 2002

If you like elections, you have to like New Jersey - where we have an election every year. In odd-numbered years, the State races are held. In 2003, all 120 members of the Assembly and Senate will be on the ballot.

STATPAC is your voice at the State level - and our goal for the 2002-2003 legislative session is $25,000. Your contributions are critically important to helping achieve our lofty legislative goals - focusing on professional liability insurance and tort reform, scope of practice issues and Medicaid. We must be “at the table” and visible in the halls of the Trenton Statehouse. STATPAC is your voice of emergency medicine in Trenton. Send your contribution today - and we thank the many generous physician members who have stepped forward with contributions already this year!

(List current as of October 15, 2002)

Send your contribution to STATPAC, 308 W. State Street, Trenton, NJ 08618.

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2003-2004 Calendar of Upcoming Events
New Jersey ACEP News - Vol. II, 2002

January 17, 2003, 9:30 am
Board of Directors Meeting, NJ Hospital Association

March 14, 2003, 9:30 am
Board of Directors Meeting, NJ Hospital Association

May 4-7, 2003
ACEP Legislative Conference, Washington, DC

May 20, 2003
NJ-ACEP Scientific Assembly, Sheraton-Edison

September 16, 2003, 9:30 am
Board of Directors Meeting, NJ Hospital Association

October 10-16, 2003
ACEP Scientific Assembly, Boston, MA

November 11, 2003, 9:30 am
Board of Directors Meeting, NJ Hospital Association

January 20, 2004, 9:30 am
Board of Directors Meeting, NJ Hospital Association

March 16, 2004, 9:30 am
Board of Directors Meeting, NJ Hospital Association

Call NJ-ACEP for additional information on any of these events!

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NJ-ACEP Public Relations Committee Report, Sept. 2002
Bruce Bonanno, MD, Chairman
New Jersey ACEP News - Vol. II, 2002

1. Identify spokespersons for NJ-ACEP.

The national ACEP spokespersons list does not list NJ as an area. There are only spokespersons recognized for the state, and they are listed under the New York and Pennsylvania areas. At the ACEP conference in Seattle, we discussed adding a NJ area, possibly two (North NJ and South NJ), as well as including NJ spokespersons under NY and PA areas. It was also recognized that some speakers in NJ are not identified on the list and need to be added.

2. Increase the number of spokespersons in NJ.

To be listed on the national ACEP spokespersons list, it is required to take an approved media training course. It will be encouraged of all NJ members going to the conference in Seattle to take the media training course being offered.

3. Various media in NJ can be contacted about running public affairs messages.

It is suggested that this be done on a weekly basis, rather than a seasonal or monthly basis, if possible. These messages can be of two types: health/safety tips, as well as those various issues that may be “political”. The National ACEP PR committee has ready made topics, handouts, and pamphlets on numerous topics that can be used. An approved spokesperson's name is inserted using the material that national ACEP makes available for such a purpose.

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Government Affairs Committee Report
William B. Felegi, DO, FACEP, Chairman
New Jersey ACEP News - Vol. II, 2002

Web-Based Access

A sophisticated web-based system secured by our lobbyist, Beverly Lynch, has allowed us to track bills of interest in the New Jersey Legislature. The website enables our group to maintain tracking lists by specific categories, receive alerts for bills, check on a bill’s status, and receive complete texts of bills. This information has allowed the group timely access to vital information.

Professional Liability Crisis

Much of our time has been devoted to the professional liability crisis and coordinating activities via NJ Citizens United for Healthcare Access (www.njforhealthcare.org), an organization established by a group of obstetricians who are concerned with ever-increasing costs of malpractice insurance. Following the June 13th rally held in Trenton, which brought over 3,000 physicians and other health care professionals to the Statehouse steps, activity continues to lobby for meaningful tort reform. All physicians in the state are encouraged to attend various local rallies planned across the state. Bring your friends and colleagues. See separate insert for details. Legislation has been proposed on the federal level in House committee to place caps on damage awards. However, it is unlikely to pass the House, should these bills pass the committee. Unfortunately, if tort reform is to happen, change must occur on the state level.

Proposed Anesthesia Regulations

The proposed anesthesia regulations would require all physicians who administer procedural sedation to be trained in ACLS and PALS for those attending to pediatric patients. The Commissioner of Health has asked NJ-ACEP for comments, and we support exemption from the proposed training requirements since current NJ regulations exempt physicians working in Emergency Departments who are board certified in emergency medicine from such “merit badge” courses.

Good Samaritan Law

A-2644, sponsored by Assemblyman Conaway, also a physician, proposed to include physicians under the Good Samaritan Law who assisted another physician in an emergency. The legislation would have exempted emergency medicine but NJ-ACEP is seeking an amendment to include protection for physicians when not on duty as staff in a hospital emergency department.

Heat Illness & Injuries

Assemblyman Sarlo is in the preliminary stages of investigating legislation to establish guidelines for scholastic and amateur youth sports activities during hot weather. NJ-ACEP has asked to be included in the planning stages.

Child Passive Automobile Restraints

Ms. Lynch testified at a recent Assembly hearing which called for changing the requirements for childhood restraints based on a child’s height and not weight per recent NTSHA recommendations.

Council of Legislation

NJ-ACEP has been well represented by Dr. Felegi and Ms. Lynch at the Medical Society of New Jersey Council on Legislation, which meets quarterly to review and recommend endorsements of key legislation. Support has been received from MSNJ for amendments to A-2644 (see related story) on behalf of NJ-ACEP.

Committee Membership

If anyone is interested in serving as a member of the committee, please contact the Chairman, William B. Felegi, D.O. FACEP at william.felegi@ahsys.org. Other members include our lobbyist and Executive Director, Beverly Lynch (lynch@blynchassociates.com), Mark Welber, D.O., FACEP, (erdocmw@netscape.net), and Daniel Edwards, D.O. (docedwards@yahoo.com).

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© 2003 NJACEP