New Unionization Resources Now Available

In a growing curation of content about physician unionization, the ACEP Medical-Legal Committee has published an information paper on the trending topic.

Interest in unionization by ACEP members and non-members picked up steam in early spring when ACEP launched a survey asking if the possibility of emergency physician unionization would be worthy of further discussion. Of 4,804 respondents, nearly half indicated a strong interest in exploring unionization.

In addition to the information paper, there are also online courses from ACEP23, podcasts, articles, and other resources about the issue.

You can also join ACEP’s EM Unionization Member Interest Group, which brings together members interested in issues related to the labor challenges faced by practicing emergency clinicians. It also provides a platform for emergency physicians to discuss, advocate for, and implement strategies related to labor rights, working conditions, and fair compensation.

Find all these resources at acep.org/unionization.

Bet on Your Education in Vegas—Register Today!

ACEP24 is all about education—but don’t forget the flexibility and fun. Learn more and sign up today at acep.org/acep24.

• Register before Aug. 30 with a 4-day registration and get Virtual ACEP24 free. All the courses will be available for 18 months online—leaving you more time to spend time with peers in Vegas and watch the courses later.
• Based on your feedback, you do not need to pick your courses in advance. Just register for the conference, and set your days while you are on site—prioritizing courses, events, and meetings that matter most to you.
• The PEER Challenge Finals will be LIVE at ACEP24. This single-elimination tournament tests clinical knowledge and pits the Top 32 qualifiers against each other. Watch the Round of Eight online, set for 4 p.m. (CST) on Aug. 15, to see who will be headed to the finals.
• The new Connections Hub highlights several networking opportunities—both with vendors showcasing the latest technology for your ED and with your peers to take deeper dives into topics that impact your daily practice.
• Experiential educational courses include Game On and the Escape Room!
• Unwind and connect with colleagues with bites and brews at the Section Hall Crawl.

Recognize Your Section … Deadline July 31

Each year, ACEP’s Sections of Membership receive a variety of awards. See if your Section’s exceptional efforts will result in accolades at ACEP24 in Las Vegas. The application deadline is July 30. Four categories are available:

Service to Section (2023 Winner: Palliative Medicine Section)

• Based on activities from Aug. 1, 2023 to July 31, 2024
• Educational offerings and unique projects that provide member value

Service to College (2023 Winner: Emergency Ultrasound Section)

• Based on activities from Aug. 1, 2023 to July 31, 2024
• Assistance to related College committee(s) to meet objectives
• Development of a policy statement, PREP, or white paper
• Assistance to the College in meeting strategic objectives

Promoting Section Membership (2023 Winner: Diversity, Inclusion & Health Equity Section)

• Based on the highest percentage of free resident members enrolled in the Section and overall increase in membership during the previous year (Nov. 1, 2022 to Oct. 31, 2023). Note: Sections receiving “automatic” members will not be eligible for this award.

Outstanding Newsroom Content (2023 Winner: Tactical and Law Enforcement Emergency Medicine Section)

• Based on the number of newsroom articles published during the previous year (Nov. 1, 2022 to Oct. 31, 2023) and the quality of the content.

ACEP-Backed Physician Due Process Bill Introduced in Congress

The Physician and Patient Safety Act was formally introduced in Congress in late May. This bill would ensure emergency physicians are afforded due process protections under medical staff bylaws before an employer makes decisions affecting a physician’s employment status. Physician due process was one of ACEPs top advocacy priorities during the 2024 Leadership and Advocacy Conference.

ACEP helped develop this bill that would require the Department of Health and Human Services to issue regulations ensuring that any physician granted medical staff privileges at a hospital has a fair hearing and appellate review through appropriate mechanisms before any termination, restriction, or reduction of professional activity.

“Safeguarding the foundational right to due process for emergency physicians guarantees that we can fully advocate for the health and well-being of our patients without fear of retaliation or termination,” said ACEP President Aisha Terry, MD, MPH, FACEP. “The Physician and Patient Safety Act will help dismantle the current two-tiered system where within the same hospital, some physicians have due process protections and others, like emergency physicians, do not.”