·	Organizational Chart
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	April 2004 Meeting
·	Plenary Session Minutes
·	Resolutions Submitted
·	Resolutions Results
·	Communications and Education Committee
·	Medical Practices Committee Meeting
·	Neurotrauma Committee Meeting
·	Reimbursement Committee
·	Workforce Committee
·	Young Physicians Committee
	Quadrant Reports:
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Workforce Committee

Orlando, FL
April 30, 2004

Members represent included Chairman, Mick Perez-Cruet, Vice Chairman Deborah Benzil, Joseph Hlavin, Randall McCafferty, Henry Woo, Satish Krishnamurthy, Ali Trilavi, James Melisi, Kent Duffy, Erica Bisson, Avinash Mohan, John McGregor, Andrea Strayer and David Jimenez.

Minutes from prior meetings were accepted.

New members were introduced at this meeting. It was encouraging to see that this meeting has grown in size and interest in membership attendance.

Resolutions I – VII were discussed.

Resolution I – PROPOSED CHANGE TO CSNS RULES & REGULATIONS: ALLOWING APPOINTEES TO BE OFFICERS

The members of the Workforce Committee overwhelmingly supported this resolution. It was felt that appointees to the AANS and CNS have show an interest and willingness to participate in the CSNS should be allowed to be elected to officer positions. Therefore, Dr. Ali Salivi will present this resolution during the plenary session to reflect the committees support.

Resolution II – HOSPITAL COVERAGE OF MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY INSURANCE IN EXCHANGE FOR EMERGENCY ROOM SERVICES

This resolution was discussed, focusing on methods of implementing such a resolution. It was felt that after reviewing a letter provided by Katie Orrico addressed to the Dept. of Health and Human Services office of Inspector General that this issue should be referred to the Washington Committee. The letter also states that a payment practice that does not fall within the ambit of the safe harbored and is not necessarily violating the anti-kickback status. This needs to be further investigated. The Workforce Committee supports such a resolution by improving the access to care for neurosurgical ER patients.

Resolution III – SURVEY TO ASSESS THE EFFECTS OF THE CURRENT MEDICAL LIABILITY CRISIS ON PROVIDING NEUROSURGICAL CARE

This resolution intent has recently been preformed by the Washington Committee who did conduct a recent survey on the effects of the current medical liability crisis on neurosurgical practice. There was discussion on how best to disseminate this information included drafting a manuscript and submitted to major journals, such as JAMA. In general, the Workforce Committee was in support of such surveys, to be preformed on an annual basis and via the Washington Committee, which already has an established survey mechanism in place.

Resolution IV – SUPPORTING INCREASED ORGAN DONATION

Although the members of the Workforce Committee were in support of encouraging organ donation, they were not certain whether endorsing the methodologies of LifeSharers was appropriate. We recommended referral to committee who could invite the organizational leaders of LifeSharers to perform a presentation on LifeSharers so that a more educated decision concerning this resolution could be made.

Resolution V – MOTORCYCLE HELMETS

The Workforce Committee was unanimously in support of this resolution for mandatory helmet laws throughout the United States.

Resolution VI – STATEMENT ON THE ETHICS OF NON-PARTICIPATION IN MEDICARE

The Workforce Committee did not support this resolution with multiple members stating their concern for physicians opting out of taking care of Medicare patients. The concern was that this might reflect poorly on neurosurgeons who could be seen as restricting care to this group of patients. Therefore, this resolution was not supported.

Resolution VII – STATE SOCIETY LISTING IN THE E-BULLETIN CALENDAR

It was felt that this resolution needed further clarification and that there was already listing of meetings on the AANS website. It was also stressed to include the CNS website as well.

After concluding discussion of these resolutions, members were asked to consider additional resolution topics. One topic of particular interest could be that presented by Edward Van der Schmidt in which he put together an accurate listing of neurosurgeons currently practicing in the state of New Jersey. This listing was very complete including individuals where they practice as well as their partners and could serve as a vital resource to state neurosurgical societies for communication with their members as well as obtaining demographic information.

Additionally, prior resolutions such as Neurosurgical Physician Extenders issues were briefly discussed with Deborah Benzil who will make a presentation at the plenary session that this is an ongoing project of the Workforce Committee in conjunction with nurse practitioner Andrea Strayer. Andrea Strayer has conducted a survey of nurse practitioner, which will be presented in subsequent meetings.

Workforce Committee was adjourned.

Respectfully submitted:

Mick Perez-Cruet, M.D.
Chairman