The 2014 ACEP Council considered several resolutions during its annual meeting this week, including issues related to the ACEP bylaws and emergency medicine practice issues.

This year’s 367-member Council represents all 53 chapters, 33 ACEP sections of membership, the Emergency Medicine Residents’ Association (EMRA), the Association of Academic Chairs in Emergency Medicine (AACEM), the Council of Emergency Medicine Residency Directors (CORD), and the Society of Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM).

The resolutions adopted by the Council do not become College policy until they are reviewed and approved by the ACEP Board of Directors on Thursday.

On Sunday, the Council approved a Bylaws resolution that restructures ACEP membership categories, which was structural in nature, not substantive. The resolution proposed that ACEP membership categories be combined to regular, candidate, international, and honorary. This Bylaws change to the structure would not impact dues or benefits.

The Council also voted to adopt a resolution asking ACEP to study the feasibility of creating a non-voting, non-office-holding membership category for individuals not currently eligible for active membership.

A resolution regarding “continued vs. continuous” membership for maintenance of fellow status was referred to the Board. Testimony was divided and those in favor indicated that members could pay back dues or reapply for fellow status. Those against the resolution indicated that there might be unforeseen consequences of military members or those working internationally losing their FACEP distinction.

Also referred to the Board were resolutions about Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation and Advocacy for Professional Licensure of EMS Providers.

The Council adopted resolutions related to:

• Assistant Physician Designation
• ED Information System Safety Issue Recognition and Management
• ED Mental Health Information Exchange
• EMTALA-Related Liability Reform
• Examination of Stark Law Potential Implications
• Future Funding for ACEP Report Cards in the Emergency Care Environment
• Human Trafficking
• Impact of High Deductible Insurance Plans
• Parity in Reimbursement for Telemedicine Services
• Safe Citizen Day
• Sexual Assault Victims’ DNA Bill of Rights
• Single-Payer Health Insurance
• Anonymous Expert Physician Testimony for a State Medical Licensing Board
• Bariatric Emergency Department Guidelines
• Development of Telemedicine Policy for Emergency Medicine
• Naloxone Prescriptions by Emergency Physicians
• Pedestrian Injuries Are Preventable
• State Medical Licensing Board Anonymous Complaint
• Support for Clinical Pharmacists as Part of the Emergency Medicine Team
• Trauma Center Certification Task Force
• Triage Screening Questions

Next year’s Council meeting will take place Oct. 24–25 in Boston, Massachusetts.