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BUILDING ON A LEGACY OF EXCELLENCE: A BRIEF HISTORY OF CEP AMERICA AND EMERGENCY MEDICINE
The following is a timeline of significant events in CEP America's (CEP) 30-year history and the history of Emergency Medicine as a specialty. Many of the developments in this field have impacted the Partnership and CEP has certainly played a role in important decisions relating to Emergency Medicine, as well. Now practicing in four states and with its solid foundation and rich history, CEP America continues to build on our legacy of excellence.
2010
- CEP America to hold its annual Partnership meeting and 35th Anniversary Celebration.
2007
- CEP America commences staffing at 5 new ED contracts on the same day, January 1, 2007.
2006
- CEP begins providing emergency care in 3rd state with award of Sun Health System contracts in Arizona.
- California Emergency Physicians Medical Group launches its new name, CEP America, which better reflects it growing national presence.
- CEP America Partner Myles Riner is President of the California Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians (Cal/ACEP).
2005
- CEP is the largest democratic emergency medicine group in the US, with 54 emergency departments, 19 acute care centers, and over 1,100 providers who treat nearly 2,500,000 patients per year.
- CEP is accredited by the Institute for Medical Quality (IMQ) and is able to grant CME credits to physicians for educational events. An ultrasound course is developed for CEP physicians.
- CEP is awarded two out-of-state contracts, Adventist Medical Center in Oregon and DeKalb Medical Center in Georgia.
- CEP holds its annual Partnership meeting and 30th Anniversary Celebration at the Fairmont San Francisco.
2004
- CEP has 50 of the hospital contracts that it currently manages.
- CEP announces its online Flu Watch Center which tracks current flu season activity trends in California.
- CEP elects the first woman to its Board of Directors in 20 years, Dr. Mary Fitzsimmons.
- A Nurse Consultant position is created to strengthen CEP’s collaborative physician/nurse relationships as well as to provide management support to CEP EDs.
- CEP Partner Dr. Karen Pike becomes a medical editor and consultant for a popular TV drama, “Grey’s Anatomy.” CEP Partner Dr. Mike Wolfe edits and stars in a hit TV show, “Untold Stories of the ER.”
2003
- CEP Partner Dr. Wes Fields is elected President of CAL/ACEP.
- There are 132 fully accredited emergency medicine residency programs in the United States. CEP has at least one Partner from each program.
- CEP begins offering a clinical Continuing Medical Education (CME) Program at its Regional Meetings.
- The RME Program is widely adopted throughout CEP’s hospital sites, resulting in a significant decrease in patient wait times.
2001
- Pioneers Memorial Hospital launches CEP’s Rapid Medical Evaluation Program©, allowing the emergency department treatment process to begin immediately.
- CEP’s Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) Program receives an award for Excellence in Healthcare Risk Management. The PDAs allow access to a medical reference library.
2000
- The CEP website is first launched; www.cep.com provides a tool for secure, efficient communication among CEP Partners with access 24/7, as well as providing best-practice management and educational resources.
- CEP celebrates its 25th Anniversary at the Fall Partnership meeting at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim, CA.
- CEP has 40 of the hospital contracts that it currently manages.
- Dr. Prentice Tom is appointed CEP’s first Chief Medical Officer. The CMO position was created to oversee demonstrated performance improvement and the development of Best Practices.
1998
- CEP Partner Dr. C.L. (Mac) McArthur, is elected President of CAL/ACEP.
- Senate Bill 277 guarantees physicians in rural stand-by emergency departments reimbursement from the EMS Fund.
1997
- The State Budget Act eliminates a 20% reduction in Medi-Cal reimbursement for physician services performed in the emergency department, yielding a total of $13.6 million per year for emergency and on-call physicians.
- Assembly Bill 1560 requires HMOs to pay hospital emergency department and emergency physician claims in a timely manner, subject to penalties.
1996
- CEP has 30 of the hospital contracts that it currently manages.
- Senate Bill 1832 requires HMOs to provide post-stabilization care within one-half hour at an emergency physician's request, to pay for screening exams for their patients, to provide 24-hour access when prior authorization is required, and prohibits their retrospective denial of prior authorizations for care and treatment.
1995
- CEP celebrates its 20th Anniversary at its Spring Partnership meeting at the Westin St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco, CA.
- The US Congress passes the Access to Emergency Medical Services Act which establishes a national uniform definition of a medical emergency.
1994
- Senate Bill 1832 requires HMOs to pay for patient screening exams and prohibits their retrospective denial of prior authorizations for treatment.
- “ER,” the long-running television show about life in a Chicago hospital’s emergency department, debuts and goes on to become a #1 prime time drama.
1993
- MedAmerica Billing Services, Inc. (MBSI), forms to provide coding, billing, auditing and reporting services to emergency medicine and other types of practices.
- The FCC creates the Emergency Medical Radio Service, dedicating certain frequencies for exclusive EMS use.
- Assembly Bill 508 requires safety and security training for ED personnel.
1991
- CEP forms a malpractice insurance company, MedAmerica Mutual Risk Retention Group, a physician-directed liability insurer serving emergency medicine physician groups.
- Pediatric Emergency Medicine is approved as a subspecialty of Emergency Medicine.
- Senate Bill 946 further improves administration of the EMS Fund, ensuring that funds are correctly allocated.
- Assembly Bill 99 extends the tobacco tax distribution three years and extends reimbursement from the EMS Fund to standby emergency departments in existence on 1/1/89.
1990
- Senate Bill 2098 improves administration of the EMS Fund, providing more favorable reimbursement conditions for emergency physicians.
- The Trauma Care Systems Planning and Development Act establishes a national clearinghouse on Trauma Care and EMS, and authorizes grants for states to develop trauma care systems.
- Former CEP Partner Dr. Michael Trainor (now deceased) is elected President of CAL/ACEP.
- CEP celebrates its 15th Anniversary at its Spring Partnership meeting at the Dana Point Resort in Dana Point, CA.
1989
- Assembly Bill 75 is passed, adding cigarette tax monies to the EMS Fund by releasing Prop 99 funds, giving priority to emergency, obstetric and pediatric services.
- One of the first reality TV shows “Rescue 9-1-1” debuts on television, featuring actual 9-1-1 calls and interviews with EMS personnel.
1988
- Senate Bill 612 is enacted, doubling the EMS Fund by doubling the penalty assessment to $2 per traffic fine.
- CEP Partner Dr. Wesley Curry is elected President of CAL/ACEP.
1986
- CEP Partner Dr. Larry Bedard is elected President of CAL/ACEP.
- Senate Bill 12 is proposed to create an EMS Fund to reimburse physicians and hospitals for indigent care. The bill passes in 1987.
1985
- CEP has 20 of the hospital contracts that it currently manages.
- CEP establishes its Ambulatory Care Division, around the periphery of its hospital client locations, to protect its market and to gain referrals.
- Congress passes the Consolidated Omibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) which penalizes emergency departments that refuse patients. It mandates a medical screening exam and stabilization for all patients, regardless of ability to pay or insurance coverage. The Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) is enacted as part of COBRA.
- CEP celebrates its 10th Anniversary at its Partnership meeting at the Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego, CA.
- CEP hires its first Physician Assistant (PA). Today, CEP employs over 450 PAs and Nurse Practitioners (NP).
1980
- The ABEM offers the first emergency medicine certification examination. Four CEP Partners pass this exam in its first year. This certification lasts ten years.
- Standard certification exams for Emergency Nurses and EMTs are also offered for the first time throughout the country.
- Senate Bill 125 provides for a strong State EMS Commission with substantial emergency representation and provides that the EMS Director be an emergency physician.
1979
- After a lengthy series of discussions, hearings, and recommendations, the AMA Council on Medical Education and the ABMS formally recognize emergency medicine as the 23rd medical specialty in the United States.
- Dr. Joel Stettner becomes the first CEP Partner to be elected President of CAL/ACEP.
1978
- Assembly Bill 1301 establishes that only other practicing emergency physicians can be expert witnesses in malpractice suits against emergency physicians.
- The National Academy of Sciences publishes EMS at Midpassage, which finds the EMS system in urgent need of corrections, citing lack of coordination between government agencies. The Department of Transportation and the Department of Health, Education and Welfare agree to create and develop medical standards and procedures.
1976
- The American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM) is incorporated. The ABEM submits an application to the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) seeking primary board status. The Liaison Committee for Specialty Boards (LCSB) conducts hearings and recommends approval. The AMA Council on Medical Education approves the recommendation, but the ABMS defeats it.
- CEP has 10 of the hospital contracts that it currently manages.
1975
- CEP reorganizes as a General Partnership and adopts a long-term view toward its future. This Democratic Partnership culture continues to function today.
- CEP moves its headquarters from Dr. Stambaugh’s garage to an office space in Fresno, CA, and forms MedAmerica, a medical practice support company. Today, MedAmerica provides practice management services to over 2,200 providers who care for almost five million patients annually.
- The first semi-annual CEP Partnership meeting occurs in the Spring at the Sheraton Universal Hotel in Hollywood, CA.
- ACEP creates an Emergency Medicine board-certification exam and promotes establishment of a certifying board.
- 47 future CEP providers are born during the year.
1974
- President Gerald Ford signs the first National EMS Week Proclamation.
- The American Medical Association’s (AMA) House of Delegates recommends that emergency medicine be recognized as a specialty.
- The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) reserves certain UHF and VHF frequencies for emergency communication.
1973
- The EMS Systems Act provides federal guidelines and funding for regional EMS systems development and defines the components of an EMS system.
1971
- The television show “Emergency!” debuts, creating demand for quality pre-hospital care. Firefighter James O. Page is technical advisor, then becomes integral in EMS development. The series’ popularity encourages widespread EMS establishment.
- California Emergency Physicians (CEP) is formed by Dr. Roy Stambaugh as a loose affiliation of physicians providing emergency medicine services to hospitals. The office is in Dr. Stambaugh’s garage at his home in Rolling Hills Estates, CA.
- CEP signs its first ED contract with Palomar Medical Center in Escondido, CA, north of San Diego. Still a CEP contract, Palomar is now a busy Level 2 Trauma Center seeing over 4,000 patients per month.
- The California chapter of ACEP (CAL/ACEP) is formed; Dr. Francis A. Hurtubise is the first President. Six CEP Partners have served as President of CAL/ACEP over the years. The organization is now composed of over 2,000 emergency physicians in California. The yearly agenda improves the practice of emergency medicine through legislative, educational, advisory and social endeavors.
1970
- The first Emergency Medicine Residency Program is established at the University of Cincinnati. CEP Partner Dr. Bill Teufel is one of the first to graduate.
- The national Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) is established in Rochester, NY. The teaching and networking organization evolves into an authority, advocate, lobby and voice for emergency nursing.
1968
- The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) is formed in Lansing, MI, quickly improving care by setting standards for educating and training emergency physicians. The Weigenstein Award, named after ACEP’s first President, Dr. John G. Weigenstein, is presented annually for outstanding contributions.
- AT&T reserves the digits 9-1-1 nationwide for emergency use. The first 9-1-1 call was made in Haleyville, AL.
1966
- The National Research Council publishes a paper, Accidental Death & Disability: The Neglected Disease of Modern Society, which describes deficiencies in the emergency care system, sparking public awareness of the importance of emergency medicine.
- The National Highway Traffic Safety Act authorizes the US Department of Transportation to set Emergency Medical Service (EMS) guidelines, and establishes the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which is charged with improving EMS.
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