EM's Busiest Time of the Year. |
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This is only my second January with VACEP, but between General Assembly and Annual CME Conference preparations, I’m pretty sure it's our organization's busiest month of the year.
At the start of January, we were concerned that some of you were not able to access vaccines efficiently. Thanks to the heroic efforts of VACEP President Scott Hickey, we were able to find a way to register the remaining emergency physicians around the state.
Virginia's General Assembly kicked off on Jan. 13, and it has been a doozy of a session. Entirely virtual, with many legislators not even in Richmond, has created an environment where emails, texts, and calls flood inboxes, phones, and aide offices. The short session will adjourn Feb. 27.
Even with an overwhelming number of communications flowing among lobbyists and legislators, VACEP is advocating for emergency medicine. Dozens of members have sent their legislator emails advocating we "Keep the Cap" for medical malpractice claims (there's another alert below for you). Our president, Scott Hickey, as well as member Jessie Nguyen in Roanoke have been pushing for similar levels of education and training by nurse practitioners who wish to practice independently (there is a bill that would allow them to do so after two years; VACEP and our allies are pushing for five). Other members, like Todd Parker and Cameron Olderog, have logged into video calls in mornings, evenings, and even mid-shift to advocate for emergency medicine with state lawmakers (but hey, less travel?)
We continue to update and push our Issue Tracker to allow you to view the legislation we are monitoring in real-time. There, you’ll also find overviews and the status of key pieces of VACEP-tracked legislation, from NP scope of practice to a naloxone workgroup to licensure of naturopaths (a bill that was defeated this week, by the way). Keeping our members informed of all the work we do is of top importance to VACEP.
I'd also mention that the current bills heading to studies, plus the work we've done to elevate our presence as an organization, have led to a series of workgroup volunteer requests from members. An ever-increasing number of VACEP members are involved in policy-making at the state level. If that's something you'd like to do, please email me at sarah@vacep.org and we can talk about your interests.
Last year, we received great feedback from you and our colleagues around the country regarding our video interviews with ACEP candidates. Because of that, I spent last week recording interviews with the candidates for the VACEP Board of Directors and Councilors. I love getting to spend time with our members talking about their ideas for the future of our organization. I know you'll enjoy hearing from our leaders as much as I did (link below).
Next month, we start test-running our virtual sessions for the Annual CME Conference, February 20-21 (including virtual Jeopardy!). If Jeopardy! (the TV show) can figure out virtual auditions, hopefully we can "fumble-forward" our way through our annual quiz bowl.
As our community is vaccinated, we move closer to being together again in person, but this time with all the innovation and knowledge we've gained over the last year. I look forward to seeing you all soon.
– Sarah Marshall
VACEP Executive Director
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Emergency physician, Chief Medical Officer at Inova Fair Oaks Hospital and VACEP Member Raj Chand, MD, FACEP got his second vaccine dose earlier this month. "Felt a bit flu-like and fatigued for 24 hours, but then back to normal," he writes. "Many have asked me if they should trust a vaccine produced in under a year. My response is 'it takes years to be an overnight success.' Scientists have worked on mRNA technology for three decades—and it succeeded when we needed it most."
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#CrushCovid. Vaccinate Virginians.
The COVID‑19 vaccination campaign requires a strong vaccination workforce. To become part of that volunteer team, you must register with the Virginia Department of Health's Medical Reserve Corps (MRC).
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VACEP President Scott Hickey was featured this week in a Times-Dispatch Letter to the Editor regarding House Bill 1737, which would allow nurse practitioners to practice independently after only two years of training. Writes Dr. Hickey:
NPs should be held to similar standards of training as physicians if they want to practice independently, and we must do more in Virginia to ensure their stringently regulated clinical training. This means five years of clinical training, not two. The standard of training should be nothing less than the highest possible level. House Bill 1737 might seem like a way to create more healthcare providers in Virginia, but ask: When you find yourself in an emergency room, what level of competency do you want at your bedside?
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Here's a response Dr. Hickey received from one emergency physician: "As a physician, I also have worked with and have great respect for nurse practitioners, but as [you point out], new proposals to reduce their required clinical experience for independent practice flies in the face of all good reason. Add to that that many are now obtaining their advance practice degrees via online training and then getting minimally supervised 'clinical training' to qualify for their initial degree. And then only two years of practice to qualify for independence. I hope not." |
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Register Now for VACEP 2021 |
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Join us for our 2021 Virtual CME Conference in February and earn your CME from the comfort and safety of your own home. Members can attend and pick up credits for free (you'll need your ACEP ID). Non-members can attend for only $50.
Sessions will be streamed Saturday and Sunday mornings, ending by 1 p.m., February 20 and 21. View Schedule, Speakers, and Register at the button through our virtual conference platform (called PheedLoop).
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Vendor or Provider Partner? Get your name in front of Virginia's emergency medicine community at our Conference. Learn more.
...also, our ACEP pals at the Maryland chapter extended an invite to all VACEP members for their own virtual CME conference on March 18. Register for that one here.
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Meet Board and Councilor Candidates - then Vote!
We've uploaded nine video interviews with candidates for VACEP Board and Councilor positions. You can view or listen to them here (FYI, these are only viewable if you have the link). Even if you aren't a member who can vote, the interviews offer deep insight around the issues on the minds of Virginia's Emergency Physicians.
And if you are a member: Vote Now at the link below. Results will be announced at VACEP 2021 in February.
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Who should conduct Temporary Detention Order evaluations in VA? A VACEP-supported report is published. |
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Under orders from the General Assembly, a Workgroup within the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) reviewed the current process for conducting temporary detention order (TDO) evaluations and developed a comprehensive plan to expand those who may conduct them. The final report, authored in part by members of VACEP, was published earlier this month.
Among the recommendations, Emergency Physicians are outlined as qualified professionals who should conduct TDO screenings.
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Special thanks to VACEP’s Bruce Lo, MD, MBA, FACEP; Jared Goldberg, MD, FACEP; Jonathan D’Souza, MD, MBA, FACEP; and our longtime lobbyist Aimee Perron-Seibert for serving on the TDO Evaluator Workgroup. |
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VHHA Publishes Human Trafficking Resource Manual for Providers, Hospitals |
As part of January’s National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association (VHHA) released resource manual on identifying and responding to patients who are suspected of being exploited in sex or labor trafficking situations. The manual, Human Trafficking: Care and Response, was developed by a task force of forensic and emergency department nurses, physicians, and non-clinical professionals from Virginia hospitals and health systems.
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'X-waiver' Obstacle (Nearly) Removed to Prescribing Buprenorphine for OUD Patients
ACEP is one of 16 organizations that signed on to a letter to HHS strongly requesting to finalize the Practice Guidelines for the Administration of Buprenorphine for Treating Opioid Use Disorders initially issued Jan. 14. Unfortunately, the letter does not seem to have worked (at least for now). In late breaking news, HHS and the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) announced this week that the guidelines were released prematurely and "cannot be issued at this time." Read more in in the Regs & Eggs post: Xing the X-Waiver: The Fight Continues!
As a reminder, the DC ACEP Chapter is hosting the EM MAT Waiver Training Course on Monday, February 1. There is still time to register. Don't forget that this is free for everyone — member of ACEP or not. Register here.
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The latest (if you've followed the issue): An amendment was recently introduced that would allow a judge or jury to decide the impairment or injury is so severe that the cap would not apply — regardless of the limit in effect from the agreement. The amendment poses issue in execution, as any judge could then ultimately rule the case should not be held to the limitations of the malpractice cap.
The bill will be heard by the Senate Judiciary this Monday (Feb. 1), so take a moment to send a message (at the button below) to the members of the committee and tell them to oppose SB1107.
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The background (if you need to get caught up): A bill to eliminate Virginia’s medical malpractice cap was introduced in the 2021 Virginia General Assembly. Caps dictate the maximum amount that a patient, family, and their attorney can recover in a MedMal lawsuit. Caps make MedMal insurance affordable and ensure access to quality patient care.
Eliminating the cap will twist the knife in an already-stressed system and for emergency physicians and all other specialties. Patients could face reductions in access to care and increased healthcare costs.
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"Give an Hour" to the VACEP Emergency Medicine Political Action Committee. |
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During the General Assembly (in session from Jan. 13 to Feb. 27), VACEP advocates on behalf of you and your emergency department colleagues on issues that matter. Each year, we ask all members to "Give an Hour" ($150), or more, to help us support candidates who support us. |
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VACEP launches employer-based health plan for members |
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VACEP now has a health insurance product for Virginia emergency medicine groups and their members. We have partnered with the Virginia Society of Association Executives (VSAE) and dozens of other affiliated Associations to create leverage in the marketplace and volume-based discounts that are not otherwise available to you. |
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What is the signup process like? From one of our members: "I was able to communicate via email several times during the workday with the insurance representative. Each reply was prompt. He asked me a small list of questions about the demographics of my family. Within a couple hours, I received a PDF with numerous tiered options. I found the experience stress-free and not overwhelming at all."
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VACEP-championed balance billing legislation in effect |
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Years of hard work, meetings, and negotiations officially paid off earlier this month, when VACEP-sponsored legislation went into effect across Virginia to fix surprise billing issues that have plagued patients and Emergency Physicians for years.
Under the new law, while patients still may receive a bill for their care from an out-of-network provider or facility, that bill will be in line with the in-network responsibilities of their plan. Providers, including Emergency Physicians, will also be paid a fair rate. Learn more about how insurers pay for out-of-network care, the key arbitration process, and various patient scenarios under which they would be protected by this new law.
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Special thanks to our friends at the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association for compiling much of this information and various patient scenarios. VHHA was a partner in our effort to fix balance billing. |
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VACEP Lit Review: Monoclonal Antibodies in Mild COVID Patients |
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Here's your case: 56-year-old male with a history of hypertension presents with 4 days of cough and myalgias. His temperature is 38.1 degrees Celsius, heart rate is 90, blood pressure is 150/95, and oxygen saturation is 95% on room air. He has no respiratory distress, and his lungs are clear to auscultation. His SARS-CoV-2 test is positive. You anticipate the patient is safe for discharge from your ED.
Should you administer a monoclonal antibody (such as bamlanivimab) to this patient?
UVA Health System emergency physicians and affiliated med school associate professors Joshua Easter and Robert Reiser read and offer insights on a recent study by Eli Lilly and Company assessing the impact of bamlanivimab administration on 577 adult patients with SARS-CoV-2 and mild to moderate symptoms. Read the physicians' report.
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VACEP members are invited to share their readings and reviews on the latest emergency medicine medical literature. If you read a study and have time to write a short, easy-to-digest review for your EM peers, we'd love to share it. Email us to get started.
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Access Content from ACEP20 |
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ACEP20 was online only in October. More than 270 hours of CME credits are available for the next three years. Virtual ACEP20 provides you with access to courses with synchronized video, slides and audio, downloadable PDFs, and more — all anywhere, anytime with your computer or mobile device.
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SAVE THE DATE
ACEP's annual Leadership & Advocacy Conference is July 25-27 in Washington, D.C. Join the interest list for the latest updates.
SIGN UP
Connecting COVID-19 Patients With Loved Ones: COVID Tech Connect (www.covidtechconnect.com) is connecting critically ill COVID-19 patients with their loved ones by donating smart devices to hospitals and care facilities across the country. They are currently offering 5-15 devices per facility, giving priority to those in greatest need.
READ
LISTEN
Podcast: The Beauty in Breaking - An Interview with EM Physician and Best-Selling Author, Michele Harper
Influenza Updates: This podcast offers pearls for caring for patients with influenza in the ED this flu season, including identifying patients at high risk of complications, recognizing patients who should receive antivirals for prophylaxis or treatment, and reviewing efficacy and safety of available antivirals.
DOWNLOAD
DEADLINES
EMF is proud to offer new research grants focused on health disparities, climate change and syndromic testing of infectious diseases. Apply for an EMF grant by Feb. 5, 2021.
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Virginia College of Emergency Physicians | (804) 297-3170 | E-mail | Website
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