October 2000
Volume 64 |
Number 10
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Board of Directors Annual Meeting Summary
The ASA Board of Directors held its annual
meeting in Chicago, Illinois, on Saturday and Sunday, August 19-20,
2000. The Board Committees on Administrative Affairs, Finance,
Legislative Review and Scientific Affairs met as Review Committees
on Saturday to review reports for consideration by the Board of
Directors on Sunday. Among the actions taken by the Board of Directors
were the following:
Membership for Nonphysicians
Approved, subject to House of Delegates
ratification, recommendations that established the benefits of
the new category of membership titled Educational Members that
has been created for the purpose of making educational opportunities
available to anesthesiologist’s assistants and nurse anesthetists.
2001 Dues
Approved, subject to House of Delegates
ratification, a recommendation that the 2001 dues obligation of
Active members be increased $100 to a total of $450 and for Affiliate
members a $50 increase to $225, as follows:
| Active Members |
$450 |
| Affiliate Members |
$225 |
| Resident Members |
$25 |
| Medical Student Members |
$10 |
This represents the first dues increase
since 1991.
Budgets
Approved amendments to the 2000 budget
to provide for total expenditures of $20,296,400. The 2001 expense
budget of $18,814,000 was approved and forwarded to the House
of Delegates for adoption. The 2001 budget includes funding for
the Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation (APSF), the Foundation
for Anesthesia Education and Research (FAER) and the Wood Library-Museum
of Anesthesiology (WLM) as follows:
APSF - $ 400,000
FAER - $1,050,000
WLM - $ 400,000
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The ASA Board of Directors held its
annual meting in Chicago, Illinois, on Saturday and
Sunday, August 19-20, 2000
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Component Society Financial Assistance for Proactive Legislative/Regulatory
Efforts
Approved a recommendation containing specific criteria for allocation
of ASA funds that should be applied to component society legislative
activities.
Terms of Federal Legislation
Approved the following Resolution relating to the role of the
ASA Administrative Council in negotiating terms of federal legislation.
Resolved, that the Administrative Council
is authorized to act on behalf of the Society to negotiate the
terms of a federal legislative provision relating to supervision
of nurse anesthetists under the Medicare Program, which could
include the concept of collaboration with a physician as well
as supervision by a physician, and which could include the performance
of a comparative anesthesia outcomes study, on such terms as
the Administrative Council deems to be in the best interests
of patient safety.
Electronic Continuing Medical Education
Approved, subject to House of Delegates
ratification, a recommendation that the Committee on Outreach
Education launch an electronic program (Web-based, CD-ROM) that
would replace one of the traditional weekend workshops that would
take place in 2001.
Webcasting for 2000 Annual Meeting
Approved a recommendation that ASA implement
Webcasting technology in conjunction with an online education
company using the resources in place at the 2000 Annual Meeting.
Rapid-Response Plan
Approved, subject to House of Delegates
ratification, a recommendation that ASA develop and adopt a formal
rapid-response plan for the Society to address important issues
in a timely manner and that such a plan be developed through a
committee of the President’s choice.
Candidates' Area on ASA Web Site
Approved, subject to House of Delegates
ratification, a recommendation that information on candidates
seeking ASA office be placed in a Candidates' Area on the ASA
Web site and that this information should also be provided in
the House of Delegates Handbook.
Nicholas M. Greene, M.D., Scholarship
in Anesthesia
Approved, subject to House of Delegates
ratification, a scholarship not to exceed $8,000 per year to provide
tuition, stipend and living expenses in support of one trainee
at Tumaini University in Ghana, Africa.
2002 Directory of Members
Approved, subject to House of Delegates
ratification, a recommendation from the Committee on Membership
that a complete conversion to an electronic format be initiated
for the 2002 ASA Directory of Members. It was reported that the
elimination of the printed version of the Directory would result
in significant monetary savings for the Society.
Optimal Goals for Anesthesia Care in
Obstetrics
Because it contains certain provisions
that were inconsistent with existing ASA documents, Optimal Goals
for Anesthesia Care in Obstetrics was referred back to the Committee
on Obstetrical Anesthesia. It was reported that the American College
of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has not agreed to state
that a physician with obstetrical privileges must personally examine
the patient prior to epidural placement, nor will ACOG agree to
state that this physician must be present, but rather that the
physician must be readily available. ACOG also wishes to discuss
the 30-minute readily available rule when a patient is attempting
vaginal birth after previous cesare section.
Committee on Pain Management Name Change
Approved, subject to House of Delegates
ratification, a recommendation that the name of the Committee
on Pain Management be changed to the Committee on Pain Medicine.
Reinstatement of Preceptorship Program
Referred to a committee of the President’s
choice, subject to House of Delegates ratification, a resolution
recommending that the Preceptorship Program for medical students
be reinstated.
Support of Candidates for AMA Officer
and Council Positions
Approved, subject to House of Delegates
ratification, a recommendation that ASA financial support for
ASA members who are American Medical Association (AMA) candidates
be increased from $10,000 to $20,000 annually. Also, unspent funds
may be accrued to a total of $60,000 for use as determined by
the Committee on Representation to AMA.
Honoria for Refresher Course Speakers
Approved, subject to House of Delegates
ratification, a recommendation that honoria for ASA Refresher
Course speakers be increased from $200 to $400. This recommendation
was received from the Section on Education and Research in order
to remain competitive in attracting excellent speakers to ASA
programs.
Database Management
Approved a document, Guidelines for Database
Management by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, which
describes guidelines for data management (technical standards
and organizational oversight) that will allow ASA to pool data
into a comprehensive relational database.
Medicaid Payment Rates
In responding to a Resolution approved
by the 1999 House of Delegates, approved a recommendation from
the Committee on Economics that the ASA Washington Office add
staff as necessary in order to assign a single individual to assist
the membership on Medicaid issues. Also approved, subject to House
of Delegates ratification, a number of additions and revisions
to the 2001 ASA Relative Value Guide.
Anesthesiologist’s Assistants
Approved, subject to House of Delegates
ratification, a resolution that ASA endorse efforts to obtain
licensure and reimbursement for anesthesiologist’s assistants
(AAs). Also approved, subject to House of Delegates ratification,
a recommendation that the ASA leadership endorse efforts to educate,
train and allow for the practice of AAs in as many states as anesthesiologists
request their services. It was also recommended that ASA formally
state its recognition of anesthesiologist's assistants as members
of the anesthesia care team.
Chiefs of Service of Anesthesiology
Departments
Approved, subject to House of Delegates
ratification, a recommendation from the Committee on Practice
Management that ASA, in conjunction with component societies,
develop rosters of Chiefs of Service in anesthesiology departments.
Editorial Board Elections
Charles W. Otto, M.D., was elected to a
three-year term on the Editorial Board of the Refresher Course
Publication. Leslie C. Jameson, M.D., and Brenda A. Bucklin, M.D.,
were elected to three-year terms on the Editorial Board of the
ASA Self-Education and Evaluation (SEE) Program. Also, subject
to House of Delegates ratification, a recommendation was approved
that two additional seats be added to the SEE Editorial Board
in order to maintain adequate subspecialty expertise.
Liaison Representatives
Jeffrey L. Apfelbaum, M.D., was elected
to complete the two-year term of Marie G. Kuffner, M.D., on the
AMA Section Council, expiring in January 2002.
S. Howard Odom, M.D., was elected to a
three-year term as Representative to the Commission on Accreditation
of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Rebecca S. Twersky,
M.D., and Dr. Apfelbaum were elected to three-year terms as Representatives
to the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, Inc.
(AAAHC). H. J. Przybylo, M.D., was elected to complete the term
of Stanley W. Stead, M.D., on the AMA CPT-4 Advisory Committee
for a term beginning in August 2000 and ending October 2001.
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