Statement Type
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Joint Letter to Congress Urging further Protections for Healthcare Workers during COVID-19
Dear Speaker Pelosi, Leader McConnell, Leader McCarthy, and Leader Schumer: The American Medical Association and undersigned state medical societies and national physician specialty organizations appreciate the recent actions taken by Congress and the Administration to help physicians, other health care clinicians, and hospitals on the frontlines of care meet the demands of the rapidly evolving […] -
Letter to Congress for Further Protections during COVID-19
Dear Majority Leader McConnell, Leader Schumer, Speaker Pelosi, and Leader McCarthy: The American Academy of Emergency Medicine (AAEM) is a nonprofit medical association founded to promote fair and equitable practice environments for emergency physicians. AAEM membership includes over 8,000 emergency physicians and residents across the United States who are committed to the principle that every […] -
Joint Letter to HHS: Emergency Funding for Physicians through the CARES Act
Dear Secretary Azar: The undersigned organizations represent the hundreds of thousands of physicians who treat our nation’s patients every day. We are writing to request immediate financial assistance for physicians across the country who are taking heroic action to treat patients with the novel coronavirus, providing ongoing care for patients with chronic conditions and urgent […] -
Letter to President Donald J. Trump Calling for Protections for EPs from Malpractice during COVID-19
Dear President Trump: The American Academy of Emergency Medicine represents over 8000 emergency physicians and emergency medicine residents across America, and is the only professional society for the doctors who staff our nation’s emergency departments that restricts membership to board-certified specialists in the field. These dedicated physicians are on the front line of the COVID-19 […] -
Letters to All 50 Governors Calling for Protections for EPs from Malpractice during COVID-19
Dear Governor, The American Academy of Emergency Medicine represents over 8000 emergency physicians and emergency medicine residents across America, and is the only professional society for the doctors who staff our nation’s emergency departments that restricts membership to board-certified specialists in the field. These dedicated physicians are on the front line of the COVID-19 epidemic, […] -
AAEM Position Statement on the Firing of Dr. Ming Lin by TeamHealth and PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center
According to public statements, TeamHealth and PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center have terminated Dr. Ming Lin. If this is so, AAEM condemns TeamHealth and PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center for terminating Dr. Ming Lin an emergency physician who went public with his concerns over the safety of the hospital staff and his patients in this […] -
Background
Emergency physicians and other frontline clinicians are facing shortages of adequate PPE around the country amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.1 In response, they are addressing this through non-traditional means by self-supplying industrial devices meeting NIOSH standards. Unfortunately, there are numerous reports of hospital systems and administrators forbidding, shaming, and threatening physicians who elect to use a […] -
Merit Badge Requirements for Hospital Privileges During COVID-19
AAEM Signs on to Joint Statements Regarding COVID-19 -
Solidarity of Purpose to Confront COVID-19
To our fellow citizens, friends, and families, We are faced today with a health care crisis the likes of which we’ve never before encountered. This rapidly spreading pandemic will require everyone to do their part to slow and eventually stop its spread. Everything turns on our willingness to work together toward this solidarity of purpose: […] -
AAEM Position Statement on Ensuring that Frontline Personnel Can Provide for their Families
Many frontline healthcare workers are being appropriately asked to self-quarantine at home after potential exposures. While employees often have vacation or sick leave time, independent contractors do not. Given the personal risk frontline healthcare workers are taking to help fight this pandemic, AAEM calls on Contract Management Groups, hospitals, universities, or other entities who contract […] -
AAEM Position Statement Advocating for Immunity From Malpractice Litigation During the COVID-19 Pandemic
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, physicians are being asked to make difficult clinical decisions with limited resources. Patient care decisions that may be best for an individual patient may not be feasible or appropriate when viewed in context of the entire population. On March 13, 2020, President Trump declared a nationwide emergency pursuant to […] -
AAEM Position Statement on Use of Self-Supplied PPE
AAEM believes that emergency physicians are entitled to wear self-supplied PPE including respirators that meet NIOSH standards when, in their medical opinion, hospital or healthcare facility supplied PPE is inadequate. AAEM will offer support to any emergency physician threatened or terminated for attempting to protect themselves and their patients in this manner. This includes assistance […] -
AAEM Position Statement on Protections for Emergency Medicine Physicians during COVID-19
Adequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) AAEM supports the right of all physicians, nurses, physician assistants and first responders providing direct care to patients potentially infected with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) to be provided with adequate personal protective equipment (PPE). We applaud the acts of those on the national and state level who have declared emergencies. […] -
Federal Trade Commission: Non-Competes in The Workplace: Examining Antitrust and Consumer Protection Issues
Dear Chairman Simons: This letter is sent in response to the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) January 9, 2020 workshop concerning Non-Competes in the Workplace. The American Academy of Emergency Medicine (AAEM) welcomes any relief the FTC may bring to the unfair use of non-compete clauses in the employment contracts of practicing emergency physicians. -
AAEM and AAEM/RSA Position Statement on Emergency Medicine Training Programs for Non-Physician Practitioners
The American Academy of Emergency Medicine (AAEM) and the AAEM Resident and Student Association (AAEM/RSA) are aware that academic and other emergency departments sponsor additional training for non-physician practitioners (NPP), including physician assistants (PA) and nurse practitioners (NP). We believe the following is in the best interest of the patient and our specialty. Such programs: […] -
Statement on the Edward-Elmhurst Health Firing of Physicians and Replacement with Non-Physician Providers
The American Academy of Emergency Medicine is expressing it concerns over the recent firing of 15 physicians from the urgent care centers operated by Edward-Elmhurst Health in Chicago. The Academy represents board-certified emergency physicians, some of whom practice in urgent care settings, and most of whom receive patients sent from urgent care centers when their […] -
What Evaluations Are Needed in the Emergency Department Patients after a TASER Device Activation?
Reviewed and approved by the AAEM Board of Directors. (10/7/2019) Recommendations: Introduction: Use of Conducted Energy Weapons (CEW) such as the TASER includes delivery of a series of brief electrical pulses, which result in painful muscular contractions. The pulses may be delivered via three possible mechanisms. The delivery may be via a pair of metal […] -
Management of Opioid Use Disorder in the Emergency Department: A White Paper Prepared for AAEM
Over 2 million Americans misuse prescription or illicitly-obtained opioids, and opioid overdose deaths rose to a record 47,600 in 2017, representing a nearly 600% increase in 18 years. (NCHS 2019, NIH 2019) Because patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) are often socioeconomically and functionally marginalized, the primary point of contact with healthcare for many is […] -
Balance Billing and Out of Network Charges
Position Any regulations or laws that restrict out-of-network fees and balance billing from the emergency department should provide that insurers reimburse emergency physicians for their professional services at rates consistent with “usual and customary charges.” The “usual and customary charge” for a service should be defined using a source of unbiased, third party data such […] -
Position Statement on the Role of Freestanding Emergency Centers in Natural Disaster
The role of the freestanding emergency department is to serve the community and to provide surge protection in the event of a natural disaster. That being said, the freestanding emergency center should only stay open IF POSSIBLE. This decision should be made based on a predetermined disaster plan which should include the following points: Each […] -
Should Antiemetics be Given Prophylactically with Intravenous Opioids While Treating Acute Pain in the Emergency Department?
Parenteral opioids are the most common analgesics used in the emergency department (ED) for relief of acute pain. Gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea and vomiting are common following opioid analgesia in long-term therapy for malignant and chronic pain and are considered a limiting factor in effective pain therapy.1 Despite the lack of clear and […] -
What Is the Role of Intravenous and Intraoral Contrast in CT Evaluation of Acute Appendicitis?
Reviewed and approved by the AAEM Board of Directors. (6/7/2019) IntroductionPatients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with abdominal pain and concern for appendicitis typically require diagnostic imaging to confirm the diagnosis. Computer tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and ultrasound (US) are the imaging modalities that can be used to diagnosis appendicitis. For non-pregnant […] -
AAEM Position Statement on the Emergency Medicine Workforce
AAEM is concerned with the rapid growth in the emergency medicine workforce, fueled by the accelerating growth in emergency medicine residencies, as well as the increasing number of advanced practice providers. AAEM notes that the historic emergency physician shortage is rapidly resolving, and if current trends continue, an oversupply of emergency physicians is likely to develop, […] -
The Use of qSOFA in the Emergency Department
Introduction:The concept of sepsis has recently been redefined by an International Task Force. The task force recommended the use of the qSOFA score instead of SIRS criteria to identify patients at high risk of mortality from sepsis outside of the ICU, including in Emergency Departments. However, there are concerns from ED clinicians using qSOFA in […] -
Updated Position Statement on Non-Physician Practitioners
The American Academy of Emergency Medicine (AAEM) believes that emergency department (ED) patients should have timely and unencumbered access to the most appropriate care led by a board certified emergency physician (ABEM or AOBEM). AAEM and AAEM/RSA oppose the expansion of scope of practice regulations at the state and federal level, and do not support […]