of care does not vary based on geography 
or circumstance. Achieving this will require 
persistence, collaboration, and a willingness to 
engage thoughtfully with stakeholders across 
the state. It will require us to communicate 
with legislators, hospital administrators, and 
the public about why this matters, not just 
to us, but to every patient who walks into an 
Emergency Department.
At the same time, we must address the ongoing 
challenges posed by insurer reimbursement 
policies. Recent efforts to reduce reimbursement 
for lower acuity visits and to curtail recognition 
of critical care time reflect a fundamental 
misunderstanding of what we do. Emergency 
medicine is defined not by the apparent acuity at 
presentation, but by the responsibility to rapidly 
assess, risk-stratify, and manage uncertainty. 
When reimbursement structures fail to recognize 
this reality, they do more than create financial 
strain, they undermine the value of our expertise. 
They threaten the sustainability of emergency 
departments, particularly in vulnerable 
communities. This year, I will work to ensure 
the recognition of this cognitive work, risk, and 
responsibility inherent in every patient encounter.
Another issue I will continue to advocate for this 
year is workplace violence. The rise in threats 
and acts of violence against healthcare workers 
is unacceptable. No physician, nurse, or staff 
member should feel unsafe while providing 
care. This is a public health crisis. It can be 
heartbreaking to hear a physician normalize 
being assaulted by patients without consequence 
or recourse.
Despite these challenges, there is significant 
progress to be recognized. Through the PACEP 
Hill Day, “Coffee Talks” throughout the year 
with legislators and officials, and working with 
the Department of Health on work groups and 
educational sessions, we have built strong and 
more effective relationships. Advocacy is not a 
single conversation, it is an ongoing dialogue 
built on trust, credibility, and shared goals. When 
legislators understand the realities of emergency 
medicine, they are better equipped to support 
policies that improve patient care.
We are also strengthening our partnerships 
with our emergency nursing colleagues, whose 
expertise, dedication, and collaboration are 
essential to every aspect of emergency care. The 
emergency department is a team environment, 
and our success depends on mutual respect and 
shared purpose. Similarly, our engagement with 
EMS and trauma programs across Pennsylvania 
continues to grow. These partnerships reflect 
the reality that emergency care does not 
begin or end at the hospital door, it is part of 
a coordinated system that spans the entire 
continuum of care.
As we look to the future, one of our most 
important responsibilities is to invest in the 
next generation of emergency physicians. The 
strength of this College in the years ahead 
will depend on the engagement, leadership, 
and vision of those currently in training.  At 
our recent Scientific Assembly at Kalahari, it 
was wonderful to get to meet so many of the 
residents across the state, see the excitement at 
the “PACEP Olympics”, and learn of their academic 
achievements in the Keystone Case Competition 
and Spivey Research Competition.  
In my role I hope to continue to be intentional in 
creating opportunities for residents to participate 
meaningfully in our work. That means involving 
them in advocacy efforts, leadership, and 
decision-making processes. It means mentoring 
them, supporting them, and ensuring that they 
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Executive Privilege
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PACEP News

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