AAEM Submits Written Testimony on Ebola Outbreak to House Subcommittee

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Written Testimony of Mark Reiter, MD MBA FAAEM, president, American Academy of Emergency Medicine submitted for the record to U.S. House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, October 16, 2014.

Chairman Murphy, Ranking Member DeGette and members of the Committee, thank you for the opportunity to provide comments on your hearing focusing on the Ebola outbreak and efforts by the U.S. Government and our health care system to identify, treat, and protect the public health from this infectious disease.

The American Academy of Emergency Medicine (AAEM) is the specialty society of board certified emergency physicians, representing 8,000 members across the country. Whether it is an athlete suffering from a broken bone, an infant struggling to breathe, a victim struggling to survive a gunshot wound, or a patient dealing with debilitating symptoms from an infectious disease, our emergency physicians serve on the front lines everyday combating life threating conditions. Our emergency physicians, nurses, and medical support teams provide this type of care in often overcrowded, underfunded, and overburdened systems. A typical emergency department (ED) could see 100 patients a day while a more populated one could see 300. According to the CDC, in 2010 the number of visits to an ED was 129.8 million. This number continues to increase. Despite the well-intended efforts of the Affordable Care Act to direct non-critical and non-emergency patients to primary care providers, Americans frequently still choose EDs as their first option for care. EDs are, in particular, a first point of care for many immigrants and travelers who seek treatment in the United States.
Like many Americans, we are saddened by the toll Ebola has taken on the lives of many in West Africa and other countries and now the United States. We share in the concern for our fellow caregivers who appear to have contracted the disease from their efforts to save a now deceased patient. We are proud of our physician colleagues who are battling against Ebola in West Africa under challenging conditions in an effort to save lives and prevent further infections. Unfortunately, this disease poses significant challenges not only to the global health system but to our health system as evidenced recently in Texas, Georgia, and Nebraska.

AAEM and FLAAEM Concerned Over Florida Supreme Court Ruling Removing Cap on Non-Economic Damages for Medical Malpractice

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 17, 2014

Contact: Laura Burns
Communications Manager
lburns@aaem.org
800-884-2236

MILWAUKEE — The American Academy of Emergency Medicine (AAEM) and the Florida state chapter of AAEM (FLAAEM) are concerned about the effect of Thursday’s ruling by the Florida Supreme Court and its implications for the emergency medicine community.

The court’s 5-2 ruling will remove caps of $500,000 on non-economic damages and $1 million on damages on wrongful death claims, originally set in place in 2003. In response to the ruling, the president of the Florida Medical Association, Alan Harmon, MD, noted that the caps were originally enacted “to counter the out-of-control litigation that was driving physicians out of the state and discouraging new physicians to locate in Florida. The caps have helped begin to stabilize the medical liability climate in Florida. Insurance premiums, while still high compared to other states, have started to level off since the caps were put into place.”[1]

David A. Farcy, MD FAAEM FCCM FACEP, president of FLAAEM, echoes concerns that the ruling may increase costs and limit access to care stating, “Physicians will return to practicing a more defensive type medicine by ordering more tests to protect themselves, resulting in increased health care costs, longer wait times and length of stay in the emergency department.” Dr. Farcy also noted that the decision may discourage new medical graduates and other specialists, such as OB-GYNs and General Surgeons, from remaining in Florida due to the high cost of medical malpractice premiums.

Mark Reiter, MD MBA FAAEM, president of AAEM, added that "AAEM is committed to a future where all patients presenting to our emergency departments are cared for by emergency medicine specialists. This ruling is a major step back as many emergency physicians in Florida may now choose to leave what has now become one of the worst medicolegal environments in the country."

AAEM Stands with First Responders in Oklahoma; How You Can Help Too

Please help us spread the information on how you can help the recovery efforts in Oklahoma.  

In light of the devastating tornadoes that have affected Oklahoma and the surrounding area, the American Academy of Emergency Medicine (AAEM) would like to send our thoughts and prayers to everyone who has suffered losses in the wake of this storm.

AAEM President, William Durkin, MD MBA FAAEM, notes that “We applaud the work of the dedicated first responders, emergency personnel, and volunteers who are still working to rescue and treat victims of the storm. Rescuers will be facing long hours and dangerous conditions as the efforts continue, and we would like to express our solidarity with these brave individuals.”

AAEM has pledged a donation to the American Red Cross to help in the recovery efforts.

How to Help
People who wish to make a donation have several options to do so.
You can support American Red Cross Disaster Relief, which helps provide food, shelter and emotional support to those affected by disasters like the recent tornadoes in Oklahoma and Texas as well as disasters big and small throughout the United States by visiting redcross.org, dialing 1-800-REDCROSS, or texting “REDCROSS” to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

People in Oklahoma near the tornado area are encouraged to connect with one another and let loved ones know that they are safe. This can be done through the “I’m Safe” feature on the free Red Cross tornado app. In addition, if you have access to a computer, go to redcross.org/safeandwell to list yourself as safe. If not, you can text loved ones or call a family member and ask them to register you on the site.

The Salvation Army is also currently mobilizing disaster response units to serve hard-hit areas in Central Oklahoma, including Moore and South Oklahoma City. The Salvation Army is welcoming cash donations that will help provide food, water, ice, and other necessities in the initial response.
The Salvation Army is also providing emotional and spiritual comfort to those affected.

Donors are encouraged to give online at www.SalvationArmyUSA.org or by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769). You can also text the word “STORM” to 80888 to make a $10 donation through your mobile phone; to confirm your gift, respond with the word “Yes.”

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The American Academy of Emergency Medicine (AAEM) is the specialty society in emergency medicine today. As an organization, AAEM believes achievement of board certification represents the only acceptable method of attaining recognition as a specialist in emergency medicine.

For more information, please visit www.aaem.org or call 800-884-2236.
Connect with AAEM: www.aaem.org/connect.  

Read the press release on the AAEM website. 

Please help us spread the information on how you can help the recovery efforts in Oklahoma. 

May is Stroke Awareness Month

May is Stroke Awareness Month. Both physicians and the general public can participate to increase awareness.

For our members and other emergency physicians, we encourage you to submit public comments to The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA) Stroke Performance Oversight Committee, regarding performance measures for acute ischemic stroke (see below).

For the public, we encourage you you to brush up on your awareness of recognizing stroke symptoms and knowing what steps to take in case of that emergency (see below).