The American College of Emergency Physicians is a medical
specialty society that was formed in 1969 to improve emergency care by setting high
standards for emergency medical education and practice. The College and the specialty of
emergency medicine came into being in response to the public’s need for quality
emergency care. Before emergency medicine was recognized as a specialty with unique
training and skills, emergency rooms were often inadequately managed and staffed. As the
number of patients seeking emergency care increased, the need for change became apparent.
The College was created to effect that change and make it possible to properly train
emergency physicians and staff emergency departments full time, thereby improving patient
care and saving lives.
Today, the College has more than 21,000 members and is the recognized leader in
emergency medicine.
Advocacy Initiatives
The American College of Emergency Physicians advances the specialty of
emergency medicine through its advocacy efforts on behalf of its members and their
patients.
That advocacy begins with the College’s commitment to education. The College
publishes educational texts and sponsors a number of educational meetings including
Scientific Assembly, Research Forum, and the Emergency Medicine Connection that keep
emergency physicians up-to-date on the latest research and clinical procedures in their
specialty. The College has also developed numerous clinical policies for appropriate
patient care and public health policies dealing with issues such as HIV and blood borne
infections and poison information and treatment.
Legislative and regulatory advocacy is also an important part of the College’s
mission and through those efforts emergency medicine has seen significant progress on
issues such as access to emergency care, patient transfers, equitable reimbursement, and
the funding of graduate medical education. The College also works with its 50 state
chapters to support local legislation.
The College’s number one legislative priority is the passage of the Access to
Emergency Medical Services Act, also known as the Prudent Layperson Standard. Rep. Ben
Cardin (D-MD) introduced the bill in the House of Representatives and Sen. Bob Graham
(D-FL) introduced it the in the Senate. Once passed and signed into law, this bill will
ban prior authorization for emergency department visits and require insurance companies to
pay for visits that a "prudent layperson" would deem necessary.
The College also promotes emergency medicine through public education programs and
works with the national media to enhance awareness of emergency medicine issues.
Statement of Values
Through continuing professional education, patient advocacy, public
information, and research the College strives to uphold these values:
- Quality emergency care is a fundamental right and should be available to all who seek
it.
- There is a body of knowledge unique to emergency medicine that requires continuing
refinement and development.
- Quality emergency medicine is best practiced by qualified, credentialed emergency
physicians.
- The emergency physician has the responsibility to play the lead role in the definition,
evaluation, and improvement of quality emergency care.
