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The Presidential elections are finally over, the ACEP _Scientific Assembly_ was a huge success, and the Holidays are here again. Another year has flown by and these events signal the end of my leadership opportunities with the Kentucky chapter of ACEP. It has truly been my honor to work for you and with you over the last two years to promote the practice of quality emergency medicine in our state. I have learned a great deal about the entire ACEP organization but more importantly, I now realize what a vital role we can all play as advocates for the public health and rights of our emergency department patients. After reminiscing about the last 24 months, several notable achievements for our chapter stand out. Dr Melissa Platt, our membership chair, has helped to grow our membership over 15%! From approximately 275 members to 325 members, this effort has added a fourth national ACEP councilor position and one more Kentucky vote at the Council meetings. We have changed our newsletter to paperless which saves money and allows a broader public outreach for our members. We have expanded the KACEP Board of Directors to include resident members from both emergency medicine residency programs. Our first University of Louisville resident board member is Dr Stan Daniel and from the University of Kentucky, Dr Allison Rains joined the team. The annual KACEP Residency Career Assembly continues to grow each year and has received tremendous positive feedback from participants, exhibitors and speakers. Also, the Kentucky Trauma Symposium has now become a joint emergency medicine and trauma surgery combined educational conference. Most importantly, KACEP played a vital role in helping to pass our Kentucky Trauma System bill. Several members of our board volunteered many hours and days meeting with Frankfort legislators and the Trauma Advisory Committee to ensure this happened for the people of Kentucky. As Kentucky still ranks among the lowest states in the country for seatbelt use, traffic fatalities, fire-arm related deaths, and deaths due to fire or burns, this bill is the first step towards saving hundreds of lives per year. KACEP now holds a permanent spot on the Deptartment of Public Health’s Trauma Advisory Committee and will continue to help mold the new trauma system. These efforts have allowed KACEP to develop meaningful relationships with the State EMS Board, the American College of Surgeons, Pediatrics, Kentucky Board of Nursing, the KMA and KHA. KACEP is becoming a new “go-to” specialty organization for medical advice in the state. Just last week, the Governor’s office called and invited KACEP to join a coalition to expand the state’s KCHIP program and asked us to attend the press conference with them. We are definitely moving in the right direction and we need to keep the momentum going. Our chapter welcomes Dr Barb Reynolds as our 2009-2010 President. She has been involved in KACEP for many years and has been one of my mentors within the organization. She will be an invaluable resource for our chapter as we move forward and continue to tackle issues such as decreasing access to emergency care, medical liability reform, declining reimbursements, overcrowding and boarding. I continue to urge all members to give of your time and energy now. The new Democratic Congress vows to address health care reform immediately. Therefore, our voices must be heard and we need a spot at the table in order to help guide the reform before those choices are made for us.
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Letter from the President