Highlights from the 2009 House of Delegates
Nearly 30 resolutions were debated at the Pennsylvania Medical Society’s House of Delegates meeting Oct. 24 and 25, 2009, in Hershey.
Some were adopted, and the Medical Society and its staff will work to carry out the resolutions. Others were sent to the Board of Trustees for study.
Resolutions that were adopted include:
- Improving mental health services in primary care—The Medical Society will work with key state groups to adopt the recommendations of a 2009 position paper that addresses the shortage of child and adolescent mental health services.
- Cell phone use by drivers—This action calls on the Medical Society to issue a public warning about the use of handheld electronic devices while driving and continue to work for legislation prohibiting the use of these devices while driving.
- Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (DOT) reporting requirements—The Medical Society will pursue changes to DOT reporting requirements, work with DOT to improve the reporting process, and develop improved methods to evaluate whether a patient’s condition affects driving ability.
- Dose specificity recommended for elderly—The House of Delegates voted to ask that the AMA collaborate with medical specialties and lobby appropriate federal agencies to develop recommendations for appropriate medication dosages for elderly patients.
- Promoting flu vaccination in physician practices—The Medical Society will launch a program to recognize physicians’ practices who report 100 percent of their eligible staff have been vaccinated.
- Health system reform—The Medical Society will ask the AMA to incorporate the Society’s eight essential principles of health system reform in any reform polices the AMA adopts or proposes.
- Participation in PAMPAC—The House voted to recognize members of the political action committee PAMPAC at future House meetings, with the hope of encouraging greater membership.
- CME accreditation for local hospitals—The Medical Society, working with a committee of physician CME directors, will look at the difficulties local hospitals are having meeting CME accreditation requirements.
Another resolution, which was referred to the Board of Trustees, addressed defining boarding time in Pennsylvania’s emergency departments. The Medical Society’s Board will study how to craft a policy defining criteria for a “boarded ED admitted patient” to ensure more accurate statewide data collection.
Last Updated: 10/29/2009