Annual Meeting Highlights

Election Results

Annual Reports for Year 2002 Activity

 Nominating Committee

Chair: Pamela A. Ross, MD, FACEP

Committee Members: James R. Dudley, MD, MBA; Mark D. Tripp, MD, FACEP

Goals and Accomplishments:

The committee developed a slate of candidates for open positions on the Board of Directors, as well as Councillors and Alternates, for vote by the members present at the Annual Meeting. In addition, the committee will make recommendations for Officer positions, for vote by the Board at it’s next meeting.

/gmh

    Membership Committee

Chair: Sabina A. Braithwaite, MD, FACEP

Committee Members: Renate Austin, MD, FACEP; Sarah A. John, MD, FACEP; Gary R. Katz, MD; Jamie Schick, MD; FACEP; C. Christopher Turnbull, MD

Goals and Accomplishments:

Maintain/Increase VACEP membership.  As of end-2002, there were 489 members.  Efforts will be directed also to focus on the resident population and their needs.

A web-based survey instrument was developed to gauge potential members’ areas of interest in specific benefits and services that VACEP offers to better allow us to serve our membership.  The preliminary results have been presented to the Board of Directors.

Membership brochure previously developed is being provided to new and prospective members to highlight benefits of membership.

/sb

    Government Affairs Committee

Chair: James R. Dudley, MD, MBA

Committee Members:   Executive Committee

Goals and Accomplishments:

Once again the Virginia General Assembly has gathered for its annual festivities. Festive it is not! The Governor is a Democrat, while both the House and Senate are controlled by Republicans, and together they face a 2.1 BILLION dollar deficit. There is no doubt that funding for medical care will be affected. It looks like hospitals, nursing homes, prescription drugs, and Health Maintenance Organizations will be hit the hardest. Certainly that will trickle down to physicians. We have not heard much about direct cuts in physician reimbursement at this writing, but stay tuned, the General Assembly is not due to adjourn until February 22nd. Many issues are again being hotly debated. In the midst of this, a malpractice crisis is looming, as Doctors Insurance Reciprocal has been taken over by the Insurance Commissioner of Virginia due to its insolvency.

VACEP is following several matters very closely. The first area deals with motorcycle helmet laws. Many of the same members who have voted to restrict a woman's right to choose are advocating an individual's right to choose whether to wear helmets. As of this writing, it appears the motorcycle helmet bills, HB 1848 and HB 1938 will die. Meanwhile, HB 2005, a strengthening of the child restraint laws, appears dead, but a similar piece of legislation, HB 2412, appears headed for passage.

Once again, an intense fight regarding a primary seatbelt law, SB 1325, is ongoing, and is too close to call. Interestingly, our colleagues from the Medical Society of Virginia have not taken a position on this issue, even though the statistical evidence is fairly convincing that its passage would save hundreds of lives annually.

We are following a host of other issues, but are not lobbying one way or the other on these. All of these bills are almost certain to pass, although many have been amended. They include:

• HB 1399  Eliminates the second vial of blood (the one that may be sent to a second, independent lab) for those accused of DUI.
• HB 1441 and its partner bill, SB 1334  Changes many of the regulatory matters involved with the Board of Medicine. Most significantly, lowers the standard for discipline from gross negligence to simple negligence.
• HB 1664   Allows localities to reimburse EMS agencies for certain out of pocket expenses of its members.
• HB 1706   Authorizes the BOM to establish guidelines for the ethical practice of medicine, particularly involving residents, consistent with national norms.
• HB 1756   Increases the membership of the State EMS Advisory Board, and adds a Virginia professional firefighter to the board.
• HB 1770   Adds EMTs working for private ambulance companies to the list of those providers covered by malpractice caps
• HB 1777   Updates the malpractice cap limits governed by the Medical Malpractice Joint Underwriting Association, to 2 million/6 million.
• HB 1792   Allows a creditor to petition the state to have a practioner's license suspended if he or she defaults on a state or federal student loan.
• HB 1823   Updates the laws governing therapeutic substitution by pharmacists, and eliminates the Virginia Voluntary Formulary.
• HB 1870   Eliminates the option, in current law, which now allows for medical records to be destroyed upon the sale or closure of a professional practice.
• HB 2011   Allows for a magistrate to issue an Emergency Custody Order and have an adult who appears incapable of making an informed decision as a result of injury or illness, taken into custody and transported to a hospital emergency room.
• HB 2182   Grants the Department of Health Professions the authority to require health practitioners to report their contact information, for use to contact them in the event of a public health emergency.
• HB 2183   Permits the Commissioner of Health to authorize unlicensed persons to administer or dispense drugs or devices in disasters or states of emergency, as recommended by the Secure Virginia Panel.
• HB 2205   Allows physician assistants to prescribe Schedule III drugs. Currently, they may prescribe schedules IV, V, and VI.
• SB 897   Makes hospitals and its health care workers not civilly liable for vaccine related injuries if they administer the smallpox vaccine, so long as there is no gross negligence, willful misconduct, and they follow CDC guidelines.
• SB 920   Requires the Department of Health Professions to investigate all reports of disciplinary actions, commitments, or admissions of a health professional, as reported to the department by hospitals or health care institutions.
• SB 1224   Requires the Board of Health to have regulations on the certification of all levels of EMTs to possess and administer epinephrine in anaphylactic shock.
• SB 1250   Authorizes EMS agencies to disclose pre hospital care reports to police when the patient is the victim of a crime or is in custody, so long as the disclosure complies with HIPAA.
• SB 1316   Requires the State Corporation Commission, beginning not later than 7-1-03, to investigate the medical malpractice insurance market to determine if sufficient need exists to activate the Medical Malpractice Joint Underwriting Association. If so, it shall be activated.
• SJ 307   This resolution recognizes the importance of nosocomial infections and the Clerk of the Senate is directed to forward a copy of the resolution to the Joint Commission on Health Care for its consideration. Well now, that should make us all feel better about getting admitted to the hospital!

/jrd

    Health Finance/Reimbursement Committee

Chair: Michael W. Potter, MD, FACEP

VaCEP Members:  Neil Grahame Brown, MD; Luis F. Eljaiek, MD, FACEP; Jason T. Garrison, MD, FACEP; Todd L. Vanden Hoek, MD, FACEP; Dan Issacman, MD, FAAP; Derik K. King, MD, FACEP; Edward V. Puccio, MD, FACEP; Gaylord Ray, MD, FACEP

Advisory Members:  Gay Barnes; Martin Gottlieb; Kathleen M. Cardella, MBA; Susan Harris; Rusty Hundley; Kimberly Kelly, Brenda Little; Garland “Mo” Mosby; Sandy Oliver; Patricia Pitrolo; Fran Rogers; Kaye Wear.  Also David McKenzie, Director Physician Reimbursement, National ACEP

Goals and Accomplishments:

For the majority of 2002 the HF&R committee has not had any substantial issues to follow until in the Fall when some of our members began to notice a trend at the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) of down-coding a large percentage of claims.  We met in September and decided to gather information on this potential problem.  Through the Freedom of Information Act we were able to gather data directly from DMAS regarding claims down-coded for the various levels of service.  There are indeed a very large number of claims down-coded to the $20 medical screening exam fee (i.e., in 2002: 45% of level 3, 20% of level 4 and 3% of level 5).  In April 2000, a guidance letter from CMS stated the following:

“…all claims coded as CPT 99283 through 99285 are very likely to be appropriately regarded as emergency services for purposes of the Balanced Budget Act and should be approved for coverage regardless of prior authorization….”

Viewed in this light the above denial percentages are excessively high.  One of our committee members, Dr. Todd Vanden Hoek, has drafted a letter to DMAS outlining our concerns and we are now waiting until the Virginia General Assembly is concluded in late February before sending it to DMAS.  We will then follow with a face-to-face meeting with the DMAS Director to further clarify our concerns and hopefully spur them onto action.  2003 no doubt will prove to be a busy year for the committee.

No issues of significance have arisen at the Medicare CAC meetings except that Dr. Jason Garrison has assumed the role of primary representative to the committee and I will step back to the alternate position.

Finally, we again had a very successful spring Reimbursement Conference as well as the practice management day at the Summer Symposium in Williamsburg.

/mwp

    Doctors Insurance Reciprocal, Council of Governors

Liaison: Andrew B. Cole, MD, FACEP

Goals and Accomplishments:

Unfortunately, I must report DIR has succumbed to the many pressures currently found in the medical malpractice industry.  Due to increased malpractice losses, poor performance of investment portfolios, decreased support from reinsurance partners, and a failed capital funds call, control of Reciprocal of America (ROA) was assumed by the Virginia Commissioner of Insurance in January.  Without the support of ROA, DIR also went into receivership under the direction of the Tennessee Commissioner of Insurance.  No further policies may be written and no coverage will be renewed.

Currently, all cases in progress with DIR are in a period of no activity for 90 days.  During this time, the various legal entities are working through the finances of ROA and DIR in an attempt to ensure coverage of losses under existing policies.

The Executive Committee of DIR is currently negotiating with other medical malpractice insurance companies to provide DIR members with coverage comparable to their existing policies.   While current members are under no obligation to seek this arranged coverage, the Executive Committee feels that any such arrangement would provide existing members with the service they have come to expect from DIR.

I appreciate the opportunity to serve our VACEP membership on the DIR Council of Governors.  This position now no longer exists.  Our Professional Liability Committee will continue to serve our member’s needs.          /abc

    Emergency Medical Services Committee

Chair: Carl F. Wentzel, III, MD, FACEP, GAB

Members:  Shawn M. Borich, MD, MPH; Sabina Braithwaite, MD, FACEP; George Lindbeck, MD, FACEP; Lori A. Givonetti, MD, Rep to TEMS Board; Robert Mark Jones, MD; Joanne Lapetina, MD, FAAP, State BTLS Medical Director; Stewart W. Martin, MD, FACEP; John M. Sheridan, III, DO, FACEP; Daphne Thomas, MD, FACEP; Mark D. Tripp, MD, FACEP, Rep to WEMS Board

Liaison Members:

Kenneth Frumkin, MD, FACEP, EMSC

Advisory Member:

Carol Gilbert, MD, State EMS OMD

Goals and Accomplishments:

The committee’s primary efforts were directed at continuing the development of the Operational Medical Director course.  This class has been developed and co-sponsored by the VA Office of Emergency Medical Services. The course was created to meet the new requirements for EMS physicians.  The course is an introduction to the EMS system in Virginia for physicians with an interest in EMS involvement.  The curriculum follows standards set forth by the National Highway and Transportation Safety Administration.  The course was presented in November at the annual EMS symposium and there were 40 participants.  The course is scheduled again March 1and 2 at the Homestead.  Support from the Office of EMS and VaCEP has allowed us to offer CME credit for the course at no cost to the participants.

Sponsoring and developing this class is a task ideally suited to   the work of the EMS committee. In the future, I hope that the committee will continue its involvement and direction of  this course.

/cfw

EEmergency Medical Services For Children Committee

Liaison: Kenneth Frumkin, MD, FACEP

Goals and Accomplishments:

This is now an official subcommittee of the EMS Advisory Board, meeting quarterly.  I continue to monitor the short and long-term programs of this group and provide input on behalf of VaCEP.  The major focus of Virginia's EMS-C program remains pediatric education for health care professionals and EMS education for child-care professionals.

/kf

    Governor’s EMS Advisory Board

Representative: Michael S. Gonzalez, MD, FACEP

Goals and Accomplishments:

Since my involvement with the EMS Advisory board there has been several major issues that have been the focal point for the Board.  The Board is undergoing a "re-engineering" of sorts with regards to its by - laws, membership, and committee structure.  Controversy regarding the revision of EMS regulation still lingers as sections of the regulations are being individually addressed and decided on.  The Board's most recent focus has been on the proposed budget cuts to the OEMS which would severely hamper any meaningful progress and support to the entire EMS system.  The outcome of whether the Board was successful in influencing this at the legislative level is still not known.

/msg

    Basic Trauma Life Support Program, Steering Committee

Chair: Joanne E. Lapetina, MD, FAAP

Members:  J. David Barrick, NREMT-P; Gwen E. Messler Harry, Executive Director

Goals and Accomplishments:

Strategic planning

Strategic plan was to increase BTLS providers by 7% yearly.  Unfortunately, numbers of providers trained has been fairly flat over the last few years with an overall drop-off this year and a several year decline in numbers of pediatric courses.  Statistics for the year 2002 are attached. The loss of interest in pediatric courses may be explained by the new PEPP course sponsored by the American Academy of Pediatrics which most agencies have been using to update the pediatric skills of their providers.  BTLS is still used by large municipal agencies for continuing education purposes but has not seen more widespread dissemination, which may be due to a lack of marketing to smaller agencies and the dwindling instructor pool. 

An idea to increase marketing of the BTLS course included obtaining free instructor guides for medical directors and drafting a letter to all EMS physicians stating that these were available upon request.   Included in the letter was information about the quality of the instruction that could be provided to their agencies as well as the number of continuing education hours available.  Special reference was made for the Pediatric BTLS course, as there is currently EMSC grant money available for those who teach pediatric courses in 2003.  These letters should have been mailed at the end of 2002.

BTLS courses for Medical Directors were offered in conjunction with each of the VaCEP sponsored CME opportunities in the past year.  A BTLS Medical Director Course will be offered in 2003 at The Homestead.  Direct costs for offering this course are negligible and necessary to maintain the pool of course medical directors.

BTLS FUNDING/COST ANALYSIS AND INITIATIVES

The question was raised prior to the annual budget session whether or not BTLS was profitable to the organization, as indirect costs have not been examined recently.  The secondary question raised was if BTLS was of primary importance to the college in light of current budgetary constraints.  After discussion, BTLS was deemed an appropriate endeavor for the college as it was consistent with the primary mission of serving patients.  Trauma education of prehospital personnel directly impacts our patients and indirectly impacts the physicians who must subsequently care for those patients.  The original question as to profitability was more complex.   BTLS was reportedly budget neutral after indirect hours were added to direct expense.  The Board directed BTLS to entertain ways to reduce both indirect and direct expenses without interrupting essential support services.

Direct expenses were reviewed and it was decided to discontinue the BTLS newsletter, which would save postage and printing costs as well as some indirect staff hours.  Information would be located on the website as needed.  Any important information or changes from BTLS International could still be disseminated to instructors by mail as needed.  Instructor courses were being offered 4 times per year but invariably after planning, at least one or two would be cancelled at the last minute for lack of minimum students required to hold a class.  In future years, only two instructor classes will be offered in addition to the traditional class offered in conjunction with the Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squad State Convention held yearly in Virginia Beach.

BTLS International has announced an increase in fees and Virginia BTLS used to opportunity to increase its own fees for students taking BTLS.  Fees were $20 for initial certification, $10 for rectification, and $10 for pediatric courses.  New fees will be as follows, $22 for Initial certification, $12 for recertification and $17 for pediatric courses.  BTLS International charges an additional $8 dollars.

During investigation of methods to make BTLS more profitable, David Barrick spoke to other chapters about the possibility of outsourcing BTLS to reduce indirect expenses.  Most chapters did not consider this as a viable option and found that most administrative questions had to be handled within the chapter anyway.  Outsourcing only the data entry for individual classes was deemed unnecessary as new methods of electronic submission are currently being developed which will negate these indirect costs. As VaCEP holds the BTLS chapter charter in Virginia and District of Columbia and is responsible for the quality of the program, removing direct oversight was felt to be inconsistent with the mission of VaCEP .

BTLS INTERNATIONAL

Virginia had the privilege of having ten Delegates present at the BTLS trauma symposium in Toronto, Canada and was successful in electing two members to the BTLS International Board of Directors.  Dr. Sabina Braithwaite was reelected and James Kelly NREMT-P, who is the current Vice-Speaker of the Congress, was elected to his first term.  David Barrick is a long time member of the Editorial Board.   The 2003 BTLS International trauma symposium will be held in York, England.  The budget committee in light of current economic concerns did not approve funds proposed in the 2003 budget to defray the cost of individuals going to England.

The total number of students trained for the calendar year ending 2002, are as follows:

/jel

    Education Committee

Chair: Timothy C. Evans, MD, FACEP

Members:  Renate Austin, MD, FACEP; Tamera C. Barnes, MD, FACEP; Ioliene Boenau, MD, FACEP; Arthur Chambers III, MD, FACEP; Cynthia E. Dorr, MD, FACEP; Kelly Anne Foley, MD, FACEP; Michael S. Gonzalez, MD, FACEP; Charles S. Graffeo, MD, FACEP; Sarah A. John, MD, FACEP; Joanne E. Lapetina, MD, FAAP; Antonio E. Muniz, MD, FACEP; Michael W. Potter, MD, FACEP; Jeffrey M. Preuss, MD, FACEP

Goals and Accomplishments:

Offer 20-22 CME credits. A summary of educational programs offered this past year is as follows:

2002 Scientific Assembly.  In total, there were 95 attendees, including faculty and staff.  Revenues ($43,763) exceeded direct expenses ($26,615) by $17,148 compared to budget target of $6,800 for net revenues.  A terrorism strike team workshop was held in conjunction with the Scientific Assembly for which a state grant was obtained.

2002 Summer Symposium. Program Director Cynthia Dorr, July 29-August 2 at the Kingsmill Resort, Williamsburg. The  Terrorism Awareness Presymposium drew 21 participants and Symposium had 115 attendees, including faculty and staff. Revenues ($47,316) exceeded direct expenses ($28,109) by $19,207 compared to budget target of $24,000 for net revenues.

Spring Reimbursement seminar. Program Director Michael Potter, April 18 at the Embassy Suites Hotel, Richmond, offered 7 hours CME. There were 30 attendees, including faculty and staff. Revenues ($5,389) exceeded direct expenses ($3,357) by $2,032 compared to budget of $2,600.

ACLS/PALS. VACEP jointly sponsors ACLS and PALS certification and recertification courses with Network Medical Systems, Inc. throughout  the year.  Because the Chapter has been approached about cosponsoring other educational offerings, the Board approved an expedited review and approval process by the Executive Director in consultation with the Education Committee Chair. This has already resulted in the Chapter being involved in a co-sponsorship of an airway course to be held at the Eastern Virginia Medical School

Ensure meetings receive positive evaluations from the attendees.

Evaluations are conducted at all College CME and results indicate excellent satisfaction in the quality of the programs.

CME self-supporting for direct/indirect costs

Increase attendance at CME programs.

Accomplishment of these objectives is an ongoing challenge. Reduced rates and CEU credits for non-physicians are now regularly offered for CME programs. Toward that end the committee proposed, and the Board approved, the move to one educational meeting per year.  The 2003 Scientific Assembly will be held at the Homestead resort from February 27- March 2, 2003 with Drs. Dorr and Evans as program directors. This conference will offer 19 CME credits (intermediate between the number of hours previously provided at the Scientific Assembly and Summer Symposium).  Two preassembly programs and optional CME will bring total available CME hours to 37.  Attending this conference will therefore satisfy the state requirement for face-to- face CME.  Lectures devoted to the ABEM continuous certification topics will be included in the conference each year. 

Other objectives

Future Considerations

As indicated above, the educational offerings of the College during the last year have failed to meet their budget targets.   The reasons for this are multifactorial and include stagnant registration numbers, failure to generate significant educational grants, expenses related to recruiting highly attractive speakers and the expenses of holding these events at attractive locations.  Significant changes in the educational offerings of the chapter (moving to one conference per year, incorporating weekends into the program as to enhance family attendance, increasing honoraria offered speakers) have been instituted in order to make these programs more attractive to both attendees and speakers alike. The Education Committee will continue to focus in the upcoming year on analyzing all aspects of the College’s educational activities in an effort to identify means of maximizing revenue and minimizing expenses while continuing to offer high quality, affordable, and well received CME.

/tce

    Research Awards Committee

Chair: Kelly Anne Foley, MD, FACEP

Members:  Eunice M. Singletary, MD, FACEP; Stuart A. Smith, MD, FACEP; Kathryn L. Kenders, MD, FACEP; Judith Mechanick, MD

Goals and Accomplishments:

This year we received and reviewed 9 abstracts to consider for the McDade research award.  Each of the categories were represented and an award was given in each category:  Post-graduate, resident, and non- physician.  Our recipients this year were:  Bill Brady, MD; Kathryn Johns, MD and Allison Ashe, MD; and Chris Wood, PA.

As my committee has noticed decreased participation and quality of research submitted we discussed via email strategies to increase competition.   Also since the college will be instituting a single educational meeting and the McDade award has been traditionally presented at the Summer Symposium deadlines and presentation were discussed.

With the Board’s approval we will solicit abstracts throughout the year with a deadline of June 1 for the abstract to be considered for the McDade for that calendar year.  The award will then be presented at the next educational meeting with an understanding there could possibly be 2 awards presented simultaneously.  It has also been recommended by my committee that the residency programs in our state be contacted directly to encourage abstract submission to VaCEP at the same time it is submitted for presentation or publication.   This of course would require the author’s permission.

By initiating these changes my committee feels we will foster research and increase participation.

/kaf

    Bylaws Committee

Chair: Kenneth Frumkin, MD, FACEP

Members: VACEP Councillors & Alternates

Goals and Accomplishments:

This year the Bylaws Committee was tasked with making recommendations for changes in the term of office for President-Elect, President and Immediate Past President.  In addition, suggestions were made for expanding voting options. The proposed amendments werer circulated to the membership in the Winter 2002 EPIC and will be voted on by the members present at the 2003 Annual Meeting.

/kf

    Technology Committee

Chair:  Renate Austin, MD, FACEP

Members: Sabina A. Braithwaite, MD, FACEP; Michael S. Gonzalez, MD, FACEP; Paul D. Osborne, MD, FACEP; Peter J. Paganussi, MD, FACEP; Francis E. Watson, MD, FACEP; Leonard R. Yang, MD, FACEP

Goals and Accomplishments:

To determine the needs of the VaCEP office so that we may better serve our members.  It was determined that the current computer system that contained the data used for the College was unstable and constantly needed to be backed up. After consultation with two computer experts, it was recommended that we replace the entire system.  The Board of Directors approved a capital expenditure for the purpose of hardware, software and technical support. 

/ra

    Long Range Planning Committee

Chair: Mark D. Tripp, MD, FACEP

Members: Andrew B. Cole, MD, FACEP; Stanley E. Heatwole, MD, FACEP; Kimberly D. Keith, MD, FACEP; Peter J. Weimerskirch, MD, FACEP

Goals and Accomplishments:

While no specific LRP committee action has occurred, the Board and Officers with input from prior Presidents have developed an updated job description for the Executive Director position.   The goal of this process is to develop a process for more timely feedback and evaluation.  Thanks to our Executive Director in helping to facilitate this work in process.

/mdt

    Finance/Budget Committee

Chair: Timothy C. Evans, MD, FACEP

Members: James R. Dudley, MD, MBA; Joanne E. Lapetina, MD, FACEP; Michael W. Potter, MD, FACEP; Pamela A. Ross, MD, FACEP; Mark D. Tripp, MD, FACEP

Goals and Accomplishments:

The 2001 and 2002 fiscal years were a difficult time for the Chapter.  The loss of a tenant and less than budgeted net revenues from the Chapter’s educational activities prompted thorough evaluation of all activities impacting the budget.  In addition, the focus of the President to move the Chapter “back to basics” has resulted in a critical appraisal of the way the Chapter conducts its business.  As a result of this self-examination, changes have been made in educational offerings of the chapter in order to minimize costs while maintaining quality.  A tenant has been found resulting in monthly income.  Further, the Chapter has undergone a thorough audit of its financial status.   The results of this audit will be available to the Board at its upcoming meeting and the auditor will be available for discussion.  In the short term, the budget committee has approved the refinancing of our current mortgage to a more favorable rate that will decrease total mortgage expenses by approximately $86,000 over the life of the loan.

In sum, the financial health of the Chapter is excellent.

/tec

Professional Liability Committee

Chair: Stuart E. Brown, III, MD, FACEP; Luis F. Eljaiek, Jr., MD, FACEP; Mark E. Franke, MD, FACEP

DIR Liaison :  Andrew B. Cole, MD, FACEP

Goals and Accomplishments:

Created from frustration with the deteriorating availability and increasing cost of professional liability insurance both on a local and national level, the VaCEP Professional Liability Committee has monitored the events of the past year. President Bush is in support of liability reform; unfortunately, the Greenwood Bill failed to pass in 2002 but may be resubmitted in the next national legislative session. Several insurance companies have either stopped providing medical professional liability insurance, eliminated their policies covering Emergency Medicine practices, or withdrawn their coverage in certain geographic areas. With a major Virginia malpractice provider in financial difficulty, obtaining quality malpractice coverage in Virginia has become increasingly difficult. From Fredericksburg VaCEP member, Charles Penick, MD has initiated a project examining cases presented to and the decisions of Virginia Medical Malpractice Review Panels. The pool of knowledge generated by studying these cases would aid in identifying common themes in local liability claims; information that would be beneficial to both practitioners and malpractice carriers.

Emergency Medicine Political Action Committee of Virginia (EMPAC-VA)

Chair: Peter J. Paganussi, MD, FACEP

Members:  Raul E. Armengol, MD, FACEP; Renate Austin, MD, FACEP; Michael J. Bono, MD, FACEP; James R. Dudley, MD, MBA; Kelly Anne Foley, MD, FACEP

Goals and Accomplishments:

2002 saw a major Bylaw change enacted by the VaCEP Board in regards to the Political Action Committee (PAC).The PAC was approved as a separate Committee by the VaCEP Board of Directors.  Service on the PAC is not automatic with Board tenure. The PAC’s membership shall be voluntary and by Presidential appointment.

The PAC was unable to formally convene in 2002 due to scheduling conflicts.