Complete Story
12/18/2015
December President's Message
First, I want to thank our many members who took the time to fill out the recent Chapter membership survey, one of our highest response rates ever. Two themes emerged from the responses and comments: the continued importance of advocacy and defining the value of your Ohio ACEP membership. With that in mind, my December President’s Message is a “top ten list” for our members, providing a look back at some Chapter accomplishments this past year.
10. Chapter dues remain unchanged for the 16th year in a row. Member dues account for only about 14% of our total $1.7 million annual budget, which allows us to provide more benefits to members without raising dues.
9. By popular demand, we developed Emergency Medicine Board Review Sessions on Demand, a new way to experience sessions from our nationally known written board review course.
8. We successfully advocated for an amendment to House Bill 341, which originally would have required a check of OARRS before any prescription of an opioid or benzodiazepine. Because that mandate could have impeded emergency physicians’ ability to quickly and compassionately treat acute pain, Ohio ACEP worked with lawmakers to create an exemption for prescriptions not exceeding 7 days.
7. For the 32nd year in a row, we put on the best emergency medicine board review course in the country, with course locations in Ohio and Florida. And in February 2016, we are partnering with California ACEP to offer our course in Newport Beach, California.
6. We partnered with EMRA for the Midwest Regional Medical Student Symposium in Columbus which hosted nearly 100 medical students eager to prepare themselves for a career in EM. The symposium was a huge hit, and we look forward to hosting the event again in April 2016.
5. We successfully advocated against a provision in the biennial budget bill which would have required physicians to report suspicious drug activity of patients to the police. Many members expressed concern that such a requirement could prevent patients or their families from seeking care when they need it most.
4. The Ohio Chapter authored three resolutions at ACEP Council in Boston: the first was on electronic nicotine delivery systems (passed by Council); the second resolution was about body cameras worn by police officers while in the ED (referred to Board of Directors); and the third was a commendation for outgoing ACEP Council Speaker, Ohio’s own Dr. Kevin Klauer (passed by unanimous consent).
3. We are currently meeting with Rep. Robert Sprague (R – Findlay) to actively educate and advocate against House Bill 250 which would require prior authorization for any opiate prescription written for an Ohio Medicaid patient, even a prescription written in the ED.
2. We supported House Concurrent Resolution 16, which urges CMS to modify current patient satisfaction surveys to guard against the conflict between prescriptions and patient satisfaction scores.
1. We passed 1400 members. Ohio ACEP appreciates your membership. I am honored to serve as your President, and I look forward to working with you to continue our focus on Advocacy, Education, and Leadership.
Happy Holidays and here’s to a great 2016.
GO BUCKS!
Michael
Michael McCrea, MD, FACEP
President, Ohio ACEP
mmccrea@ohacep.org