October 5, 2001
New physicians win seat on AAFP Board; delegates act on other organizational issues
New family physicians -- those in practice for up to seven years -- have won their bid for a seat on the AAFP Board of Directors. The Congress of Delegates, meeting this week, approved a new Board seat for the group.
Each year, the new physicians' constituency at the National Conference of Special Constituencies will elect a candidate for the Board, and the Congress will review the person's credentials before welcoming him or her to the Board.
The Congress also dealt with these organizational issues:
International work. With a jump-start from AAFP President Richard Roberts, M.D., J.D., of Madison, Wis., delegates committed the AAFP to developing a comprehensive strategy for international activities.
After the terrorist attacks Sept. 11, family doctors from around the world sent condolences to the Academy. "The emotions they (the messages) express convince me that our hurt is a global hurt," Roberts told the Congress Monday. "They reinforce my belief that we Americans must be even more engaged in the world community."
The delegates adopted Roberts' proposal, including these steps:
- address the feasibility of establishing a Committee on International Programs and
- communicate and coordinate international opportunities for clinical care, research and training.
"As we help develop family medicine in other countries where health systems are based on primary care, we may be able to teach our own nation something about providing health care," said AAFP Past President Robert Higgins, M.D., of Anacortes, Wash., former president of WONCA, the World Organization of Family Doctors.
Nursing shortage. The AAFP Board will offer assistance to national nursing organizations in addressing the nursing shortage crisis.
Dale Moquist, M.D., of Bryan, Texas, vice chair of the AAFP delegation to the AMA, told delegates this sign of the times: At one hospital in Moquist's area, the director of nursing -- unable to find staff in this country -- went to the Philippines to recruit about 20 nurses.
Pronouncement of death by nurses. The Academy will work with the American Nurses' Association to establish model state legislation to permit a registered nurse to collaborate with a physician to pronounce a patient dead if the physician is not present.
The vote on this measure was 100 21, following heated debate. "When we're fighting scope of practice issues all over the country, we need to keep this responsibility with family physicians," said delegate George Shannon, M.D., of Columbus, Ga.
"Pennsylvania has this legislation," said alternate delegate Tom Weida, M.D., of Hershey, Pa. "The nurse pronounces the patient dead, and the doctor certifies the cause of death. The process works especially well when hospice is involved." *
FP Report is published by the AAFP News Department.
Copyright © 2001 by American Academy of Family Physicians.
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