Under the Dome May 25th

Under the Dome – May 25

Leadership and Advocacy Conference

SCCEP members getting ready to take our message to Congress!!

Annual Meeting Report

I want to take a minute to update everyone on our annual board meeting and dinner last week in Columbia, SC.

- A special thanks to both of our speakers. We bid a fond farewell to Joy Zimmer (pictured accepting painting), who has retired as executive director after 21 years of dedicated service to SCCEP.  As well, we would like to thank Senator Raymond Cleary (R – Georgetown) who received our award for legislator of the year and emphasized the importance of physicians communicating their thoughts and concerns with their representatives.

- I also would like to highlight the work of doctor Stephen Ridley, MD who received the SCCEP award for Emergency Physician of the year. He is the president and medical director for Soma Access Systems and creative force behind their main product the AxoTrack ultrasound probe and needle tracking software. The product just received FDA approval and could revolutionize ultrasound guided vascular access. For more info check our the website, Soma Access Systems.

- We would also like to introduce the three new members to our Board of Directors: Dr Dave Amin from Greenville, Dr Ed Leap from Seneca, and Dr Dan Avosso from Orangeburg. Each new member is highly qualified and brings a variety of experiences and talents to SCCEP, welcome.

- We continue to monitor and weigh-in on issues that we feel are important to emergency medicine. Discussions during the meeting included the debate around the practice of APRNs, issues regarding the use of propofol/ketamine/etomidate and procedural sedation, and  also the impact/use of patient satisfaction surveys. These and many other issues will continue to get our attention. Please feel free to contact any officer of board member if you would like to elaborate on a current issue or volunteer to help our efforts in any way.

- New educational conference opportunity.  The GA, NC, and SC ACEP chapters are joining together for a course during the summer of 2013.  This should be a great opportunity to increase revenue for the chapter, please keep an eye out for further information.

- The SCCEP Career center is moving right along. Please be sure to visit it for all you job related needs.

Under the Dome May 18th

Under the Dome – May 18

Under the Dome May 10th

Under the Dome – May 10

Under the Dome May 4th

Under the Dome – May 4

Updates Leading up to Annual Meeting

SCCEP Members,

While I have not posted many updates in the last two months, your leadership has been following several issues and I wanted to take an opportunity to update you as this years session is nearing an end.

 S.1015 passed the Senate and will most likely be taken up by the 3M Committee in the House. The Senate has amended the bill (favorably in our opinion) by deleting the word “must” and adding “strongly encourage”.  The companion bill H.4659 did not pass the House and is dead for the year. 

            The APRN independent practice bill to be introduced January of next year.  The APRN’s have been educating legislators this session in preparation for the introduction of the legislation.  SCCEP, the SCMA, and other provider groups are sponsoring a dinner for the House 3M Committee on May 15^th to begin working on our own education campaign. I will be posting a separate page on this issue soon.

            The Telemedicine Insurance Reimbursement Act (H.4944) did not meet the May 1^st crossover deadline and appears to done for the year.  We will work with DHHS and other interested parties during the off session on comprehensive language re: telemedicine for introduction next year.

            Another bill of interest H.4451, Texting While Driving, is up for second reading in the Senate. Of note, the $25.00 fine goes to the Trauma Care Fund. 

Under the Dome April 27th

Under the Dome – April 27

Under the Dome April 20th

Under the Dome – April 20

SCCEP Annual Meeting May 16th in Columbia

SCCEP annual meeting: 3:00pm, May 16th at the Capital City Club in Columbia, SC
This is one of our semi-annual board meetings. The meeting is open to all members. Nominations for the SCCEP board of directors are open and elections will occur during the meeting. We would love to have more involvement from our membership. Please contact us if you or colleague is interested in serving on the board. A nice dinner will follow. Senator Cleary will be our guest speaker during dinner. Senator Cleary serves on the Senate Finance and Senate Medical Affairs Committees. He will be giving us updates on current legislation and also discuss the APRN proposal coming up for debate in 2013. We will also use this time to honor Joy Zimmer for her 21 years of work with our college and wish her well in her retirement. Joy will be speaking at the dinner and will give an overview of her 21 years of service to the college