Charles A. Crecelius, MD, PhD, CMD

State Network News February 2005 Front Page: HOD Chair's Message We Need to Hear From You! Talk to Dr. Best AMDA Information Kiosk States Adopt Pain Policies CMD Activities at Symposium Exhibit Hall at Symposium Upcoming Chapter Meetings Printable Version of This Issue

E-mail Your Articles What better way to disseminate information to other AMDA chapters than to include an article in State Network News (SNN)? If you would like to include an article in an upcoming issue, please e-mail it along with permission to reprint to Nicole Germain, Membership Coordinator, at ngermain@amda.com.

State Chapter Meetings Click here for a listing of state chapter meetings.

IMPORTANT! Watch your email for House of Delegates information for the 2005 annual meeting: agendas, resolutions, slate of nominees, ADMA bylaws!

New for 2005 This year, the syllabus will be provided on CD-ROM in the registration packet and handouts will also be available at each session. In addition, audio CD-ROMS will be available for purchase after the symposium.

Online Renewal Now Available When you receive your invoice in the mail, go to www.amda.com and login as a member. Then click on the link "Membership Renewal" and pay your invoice online.

Message from AMDA's House of Delegates Chair

It's only a few short weeks to the 28th annual symposium, and to the democratic process that makes up the House of Delegates. This year as usual we will have two sessions: the luncheon on Thursday where we will receive a variety of reports and review the slate for elections to the AMDA Board of Directors (four positions this year--Vice-President, Treasurer, representative from the House of Delegates, and representative from the State President's Council) and then the second session on Saturday, when elections will be held, resolutions will be reviewed and voted upon, and other business of the House will be transacted.

Delegates will soon be receiving material via email to read and bring to the House meeting. All should be on time and prepared for the meetings of the House, having read, analyzed and discussed the materials for the meeting in advance. The House is an active process that allows all to participate in deliberations, debates and voting. The quality of our work is only as good as the preparation and work of those involved. In addition to several timely resolutions, we will also be discussing proposed position papers.

Our resolutions are taken very seriously by the Board of Directors. Bylaws note that the board may in its discretion choose not to pass or enact all resolutions brought forth by the House. Several considerations, usually financial or logistic, may make a House resolution not feasible to enact, however, this is done only after thorough consideration. Uncertainties in the fate of some past resolutions may have made some House members feel their contributions have been unappreciated, when quite the opposite is true. House resolutions keep the Board in contact with the heartbeat of the organization. Without them, the democratic process and frontline input we are noted for would be severely affected. To help correct any past misconceptions, and to ensure the Board and House communicate better, several steps have been taken.

This year the Chair of the House of Delegates will review recent resolutions, review the rationale of board action, and report on the progress of active work. The Policy Compendium, consisting of all resolutions ever passed by the House, has been thoroughly reviewed this past year with historical or inactionable items separated from those representing current AMDA policy. The House of Delegates Resolution and Results Compendium, which lists all resolutions brought to the House regardless of passage, has also been thoroughly reviewed, with clarifications, expanded explanations, and attention to recently passed resolutions noted. House delegates are encouraged to review these documents, both to gain a sense of the rich history of the grassroots energy our organization possesses, and to better understand our current positions and policies.

You don't know where you're going unless you know where you've been. So, read our past resolutions and positions, be prepared to discuss new resolutions and other business, and help AMDA move forward in representing working physicians in long term care.

Charles A. Crecelius, MD, PhD, CMD
Chair, House of Delegates

In This Issue of State Network News:

We Need to Hear From You!
We have received little feedback from state presidents about topics for the agendas of State Presidents' Council meetings. We are still hoping we can get some idea of what is on your mind.

Dr. Best Wants to Hear from You
With your help, Dr. Best went from a novice medical director to a capable and effective physician leader. Now AMDA invites you to share your thoughts and ideas with him.

AMDA Information Kiosk
With your help, Dr. Best went from a novice medical director to a capable and effective physician leader. Now AMDA invites you to share your thoughts and ideas with him.

States Move Toward Adoption of Pain Policies
Following the adoption of the Federation of State Medical Board's "Model Policy for the Use of Controlled Substances for the Treatment of Pain," last May, state health professional regulatory boards in Missouri, Minnesota, and Virginia adopted new pain policies.

CMD Activities to be Offered at AMDA's 28th Annual Symposium
A listing of activities aimed at current and prospective Certified Medical Directors (AMDA CMDs).

Exhibit Hall at Symposium
Commercial exhibits will be open on Thursday, March 17 through Friday, March 18 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.