Each of ACEP’s 32 Sections held meetings at the 2012 Scientific Assembly in Denver. Here’s a recap of what members discussed and what sections are focusing on in the upcoming year.

Air Medical Transport

Section leaders plan to enlist the help of surveys, state advocacy networks, chapter presidents and lobbyists to identify the most important areas of interest in the Air Medical Transport industry. These topics will be addressed in the section newsletter. Members identified transport across state lines as a subject that would be of particular interest. Members received a liaison report that included updates from CAMTS, including the 9th edition standards that were published in October. Members were informed that Safety and Quality in Medical Transports Systems are on the CAMTS website, and CAMTS is currently changing nomenclature from “Critical Care ALS, BLS to SPECIFIC Levels of Care. Other reports were given regarding the MASGIT document and the CDC, HEMS Regional Project Report.

American Association of Women EPs

Section Chair Dr. Kerry Broderick discussed the need for continued efforts to elect more women to the ACEP Board of Directors. Discussion centered on ways for women to become more involved in ACEP leadership.

Dr. Linda Lawrence, ACEP Past President, presented a program on “The Power of Networking.” Six resident members of the Section ran for the office of Resident Representative to the AAWEP Leadership Board. An online election took place following Scientific Assembly, and Dr. Adaira Landry was elected to the one-year term.

Careers in Emergency Medicine

Section Co-Chair Dr. Sullivan Smith proposed the idea of a Resident of the Year Award. The section is planning to work with EMRA to determine eligibility criteria. Co-Chair Dr. John Newcomb described the online mentor program, which will pair seasoned emergency physicians with newer physicians or experienced physicians who wish to discuss various questions or problems. The mentor program will use an online discussion forum. Dr. Newcomb will discuss recruiting more mentors with the ACEP Council. The Section continues to recruit blog stories for its online blog, “In All My Career… Stories from the ED,” which posts monthly on The Central Line at www.thecentralline.org.

Critical Care Medicine

ABEM provided an update to the Section on pathways to Board certification for EM/CCM trained physicians.

In conjunction with the Section meeting, four educational presentations were well received and included: Emergency Neurologic Life Support (ENLS), Bleeding Patients on New Anticoagulants, The History of EM-CCM and Organ Donation in the ICU.