FW: The Real Story of AAEM's Role in the MN Case from the Involved Physicians

Kazzi, A. Antoine akazzi at uci.edu
Fri Mar 18 20:04:18 PST 2005


-----Original Message-----
From: AAEM [mailto:info at aaem.org] 
Sent: Friday, March 18, 2005 2:27 PM
Subject: The Real Story of AAEM's Role in the MN Case from the Involved
Physicians

Headline:  The Real Story of AAEM's Role in the Minnesota Case from the
Involved MN Emergency Physicians.

AAEM has dedicated itself to protecting the welfare of the practicing
emergency physicians.  Part of this involves working to address issues
related to the corporate practice of emergency medicine.  This matter
not only affects our members but can also have an impact on the patients
they care for.  

One of our most recent dealings with corporate EM occurred in the state
of Minnesota.   AAEM committed funds and organizational energy to file
suit against EmCare.   The Academy placed the organization at risk for
the benefit of our members in MN.   Unfortunately, our efforts were
mischaracterized in the January issue of "EM Today Digital." (The ACEP
electronic newsletter).

Below you will find the response to this distortion sent by the
leadership of the doctors we partnered with in Minnesota to this
newsletter.   Obviously, that is the best source for what really
happened in this matter.  We had asked for there to be a correction
along the lines of this response but none has been made public.  We
therefore bring to you the story as told by those on the ground in MN.
I think you will agree that AAEM deserves significant credit for its
actions on behalf of our colleagues in Minnesota.

************************************************************
Wednesday, February 09, 2005 
To: emtoday at acep.org 
Cc: McNamara, Robert
Subject: ED MD's in MN

Dear Sirs,

I would like to point out a few errors in an article in your Feb. 8th
edition of EM Today Digital. The errors occur in the article "Emergency
Physicians Return to Minnesota Hospital."

The first line states that Minnesota Chapter ACEP facilitated a meeting
that brought the Emergency Physicians Professional Association, one of
Minnesota's largest providers of emergency physician staffing, back to a
St. Louis Park Hospital last month after a 31 day hiatus over a contract
dispute. The truth is that Minnesota Chapter ACEP did no such thing. The
negotiations were in their third day when Dr. Steve Sterner was invited
to sit in to give the hospital the perspective of the ED community.

In the second paragraph you state, "Methodist Hospital, which had
employed EPPA for 35 years....". EPPA is an independent, democratic
organization that has never been "employed" by any hospital.

You further state, "EPPA filed a lawsuit against the hospital, which was
later joined by the American Academy of Emergency Medicine." This is not
true as well.  We had contacted ACEP through the local chapter and asked
for their support. The decision came from national ACEP that they would
not join us and stand by their members. The American Academy of
Emergency Medicine was also contacted and immediately came to our
support. They supported our efforts and joined us by spearheading the
legal action. They flew Dr. Robert McNamara in to town and he addressed
nearly 100 emergency physicians and garnered their support. AAEM has
been an equal partner in this action and were the co-plaintiffs in the
lawsuit. They did not join later as you wrote.

As I informed one of your writers when I was contacted last week, unless
the truth be told of ACEP's inaction and AAEM's vital role, I did not
feel that I could be party to the article. I hope you will print a
correction in the next issue and set the record straight. If needed I
can supply you with the filing page of the lawsuit.

Regards, 

 

Gary Gosewisch, MD FAAEM
President/CEO 
Emergency Physicians Professional Association

 
Below is the article Dr. Gosewich is responding to:

 ===== EM Today Digital.==============

 Emergency Physicians Return to Minnesota Hospital 

Minnesota Chapter ACEP facilitated a meeting that brought the Emergency
Physicians Professional Association (EPPA), one of Minnesota's largest
providers of emergency physician staffing, back to a St. Louis Park
hospital last month after a 31-day hiatus over a contract dispute.

Methodist Hospital, which had employed EPPA for 35 years, failed in 2004
to reach a contract agreement with the group that provides the
hospital's 22 emergency physicians.

On Jan. 1 the hospital hired EmCare to staff the emergency department,
prompting concern from Minnesota chapter members and President, Steve
Sterner, MD. Staffing issues arose quickly with the Texas-based EmCare
and Minnesota chapter members also wrote to the state attorney general
to express their concerns.

"While EmCare shared our vision and approach to serving our patients,
they were not able to meet our required staffing levels," said Samuel
Carlson, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Park Nicollet Health Services,
Methodist's parent organization.

Dr. Sterner worked with the hospital and EPPA to reopen talks in
mid-January.

"There were understandably bitter feelings on both sides," Dr. Sterner
said. "My goal was simply to get EPPA and Methodist back to the table to
explore negotiations once again."

EPPA and Methodist Hospital came to an agreement and EPPA's physicians
returned to the emergency department on Feb. 1.

"EPPA and Methodist are both committed to high quality patient care and
service. We differed on how we might fulfill that shared commitment.
Those differences have been resolved," said EPPA CEO Gary Gosewisch, MD,
in a prepared statement from the hospital.

EmCare officials could not be reached for comment, but the group
reportedly agreed to an amicable separation.

Hospital officials noted that EPPA will work with other departments to
improve capacity and reduce waiting times, as well as participate in a
hospital-based program to improve capacity, quality of care and service.

EPPA filed a lawsuit against the hospital, which was later joined the
American Academy of Emergency Medicine. The suit alleged that Methodist
Hospital breached its contract. The lawsuit and a counter suit filed by
the hospital were eventually dropped. Hospital officials said no single
factor, including the lawsuits, affected the decision to return to the
negotiating table, with both sides agreeing that it was in the patients'
best interest to re-establish the relationship.

In a statement released to Minnesota chapter members, Dr. Sterner said,
"I think we can all feel good about this resolution to a very difficult
situation. I think we can feel good about having this emergency
department staffed by a local democratic emergency medicine group
practice."

 Proposed Section for Democratic Practice Groups Seeking Members 

 A new section for physicians interested in the process of democratic
practice groups is seeking support from ACEP members.

George Molzen, MD, an ACEP Past President spearheading the effort, said
the proposed section is close to securing the 100 members needed to form
the group. He said the section will include physicians who are currently
in a democratic group, those who might want to start one, and those who
might want to join one.

"It really would be a forum to learn more about democratic groups," Dr,
Molzen said. "What are the advantages and disadvantages? If they want to
be in a democratic group, how do they go about finding one? Can we come
up with a definition of what a democratic group is? And if they want to
start one, can the section provide support -- be it networking or even
formal support -- for people who want to do that?"

Dr. Molzen added that because it would have a singular focus, the
proposed section could get deeper into the internal details of belonging
to a democratic group than other ACEP resources.

"Also, we want to be a resource to the board so that when issues come up
about democratic group structures, or the problems facing democratic
groups, the board can turn to us," he added. 

Interested members should send an e-mail to section at acep.org and add
"Democratic Group Section" in the subject line.

AAEM 
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Milwaukee,  WI 53202-3823
800-884-2236
Fax: 414-276-3349
Email: info at aaem.org
Website: www.aaem.org, www.emcongress.org

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