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Board sets goals and priorities for the coming year
M A Y 1985, VOL 41, NO 5
AORN JOURNAL
Board Report Board sets goals and priorities for the coming year
T
he AORN Board of Directors met in Dallas Feb 21 to 22 and March 2. The Executive Committee met Feb 20. The Board approved establishing an Ad Hoc Committee on Ambulatory Surgery for 1985-86. The Committee members were appointed at the post-Congressmeeting, and Carol Applegeet, Board member, will be the chairman. The Committee is to develop strategies to address the surveyed needs of nurses practicing in ambulatory surgery settings. 0 the AORN Operating Room Staffing Study. The first component of the study addresses costs in relation to staffing patterns in the OR. The publication can be purchased from Headquarters. It costs $8. the Committee handbooks. 0 retaining Lawrence Merthan, J D , as AORNs legislative monitor in Washington, DC, for another year. a fifth Invitational Nurse Educators’ Conference for fall 1986. Director of Education Janet Hixon will chair the Committee that will plan the conference; Committee members were appointed at the post-Congress Board meeting. the theme of “Unity: Pathway to Power” for the 1986 Congress, which will be March 9 to 14 in Anaheim, Calif. sending President-elect Alicia Arvidson as AORN’s representative to the American Nurses’ Association’s legislation briefing meetings in Washington, DC. sending President Ruth Vaiden to the 822
National Student Nurses’ Association convention to presrnt an AORN scholarship. having the AORN Staff Public Relations Committee study the image of perioperative nursing. deleting the conflict of interest policy for the AORN Board of Directors and Nominating Committee members. In other action, the Board reviewed the annual Committee reports received an update on the study of the purchasing power of the OR nurse reviewed projected educational programs and activities for OR nurse managers as presented by Director of Publications Ed Ashby and Director of Education Janet Hixon reviewed the national educational cosponsorship with industry policy. Cosponsorship by chapters with industry for education offerings was discussed.The Board decided not to develop a policy for chapter/ industry cosponsorship, and the Board supports the current policies of the Approval Board. reaffirmed AORN‘s stand that registered attendance at AORN-approved education offerings be restricted to registered professional nurses only. approved a complete review of AORNs national bylaws in 1985-86 by the Bylaws Committee. President Vaiden reported on her Feb 27 meeting with national committee chairmen and staff consultants. Goals for the upcoming year were
AORN J O U R N A L
MAY 1985, VOL 41, N O 5
presented and discussed. The Board welcomed new Board member Mark Phippen and newly elected Treasurer Linda Groah at the post-Congress Board meeting. Carol Applegeet and Patricia Hercules were reelected to the Board of Directors for a second term, and Alicia Arvidson was elected president-elect.
The Board will meet June 2 to 6 at AORN Headquarters in Denver. Items for the agenda should be submitted to President Vaiden or Executive Director Clifford Jordan at Headquarters. NANCYB. DAVIS, RN, BSN, FNP VICE-PRESIDENT
Strep Throat Treatment Controversy Continues
Nominations Accepted Until June 15
Administration of penicillin for suspected strep throat before a throat culture confirms the diagnosis speeds recovery time, according to the March 1 issue of the Journal of the American Medical A ssochtioa In a study of 44 children given throat cultures because they were suspected of having strep throat, LTC Marvin S. Krober, MC, US Army, Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, randomly assigned the children either to penicillin or placebo treatment for 72 hours. Their symptoms were assessed at 24,48, and 72 hours. Culture results were positive for 26 (54%) of the children. Of these, the 11 children given penicillin were afebrile, showed symptomatic improvement, and had normal throat cultures within 24 hours. The 15 children given placebo had persistence of fever and other symptoms and their throat cultures remained positive for 48 hours. They were therefore considered contagious throughout the 72-hour observation period. The study fuels the medical controversy over treatment of strep throat. Some physicians feel starting their patients on penicillin immediately is worthwhile for rapid relief of symptoms before receipt of throat culture results. Others question the need for a culture at all, but are met with the argument that for children and teenagers, the throat culture is essential because of the risk of developing rheumatic fever. Commenting editorially, Vincent A. Fulginiti, MD, University of Arizona, Tucson, says physicians should be more liberal in prescribing penicillin for relief of symptoms, but that throat cultures should be obtained and therapy discontinued when results are negative.
Nominations for the 1986-’87 ballot of national officers will be open until June 15, according to Nominating Committee Chairman Linda Tollerud. At the next Congress in Anaheim, delegates will elect a president-elect, vice-president, secretary, four Board members, and three Nominating Committee members. All chapters have instructions on how to submit candidates’ names. Nominations will be accepted until June 15.
824
More Physicians Accept Medicare Fees According to an internal report prepared by the Department of Health and Human Services, during November of 1984 a record 66% of physicians treating Medicare patients accepted government-set fees as payment in full and forfeited the right to bill patients for any higher than the maximum set price. During fiscal 1984, 56% of physicians agreed to accept government-set fees as full payment. The highest percentage of participants are: radiologists (41%); optometrists (44%); cardiovascular specialists and neurologists (35%); and pathologists (39%). Among the lowest percentage were general practice physicians (27%); anesthesiologists (2 1%); and miscellaneous surgical specialists ( 18%).
AORN JOURNAL
Board Report Board sets goals and priorities for the coming year
T
he AORN Board of Directors met in Dallas Feb 21 to 22 and March 2. The Executive Committee met Feb 20. The Board approved establishing an Ad Hoc Committee on Ambulatory Surgery for 1985-86. The Committee members were appointed at the post-Congressmeeting, and Carol Applegeet, Board member, will be the chairman. The Committee is to develop strategies to address the surveyed needs of nurses practicing in ambulatory surgery settings. 0 the AORN Operating Room Staffing Study. The first component of the study addresses costs in relation to staffing patterns in the OR. The publication can be purchased from Headquarters. It costs $8. the Committee handbooks. 0 retaining Lawrence Merthan, J D , as AORNs legislative monitor in Washington, DC, for another year. a fifth Invitational Nurse Educators’ Conference for fall 1986. Director of Education Janet Hixon will chair the Committee that will plan the conference; Committee members were appointed at the post-Congress Board meeting. the theme of “Unity: Pathway to Power” for the 1986 Congress, which will be March 9 to 14 in Anaheim, Calif. sending President-elect Alicia Arvidson as AORN’s representative to the American Nurses’ Association’s legislation briefing meetings in Washington, DC. sending President Ruth Vaiden to the 822
National Student Nurses’ Association convention to presrnt an AORN scholarship. having the AORN Staff Public Relations Committee study the image of perioperative nursing. deleting the conflict of interest policy for the AORN Board of Directors and Nominating Committee members. In other action, the Board reviewed the annual Committee reports received an update on the study of the purchasing power of the OR nurse reviewed projected educational programs and activities for OR nurse managers as presented by Director of Publications Ed Ashby and Director of Education Janet Hixon reviewed the national educational cosponsorship with industry policy. Cosponsorship by chapters with industry for education offerings was discussed.The Board decided not to develop a policy for chapter/ industry cosponsorship, and the Board supports the current policies of the Approval Board. reaffirmed AORN‘s stand that registered attendance at AORN-approved education offerings be restricted to registered professional nurses only. approved a complete review of AORNs national bylaws in 1985-86 by the Bylaws Committee. President Vaiden reported on her Feb 27 meeting with national committee chairmen and staff consultants. Goals for the upcoming year were
AORN J O U R N A L
MAY 1985, VOL 41, N O 5
presented and discussed. The Board welcomed new Board member Mark Phippen and newly elected Treasurer Linda Groah at the post-Congress Board meeting. Carol Applegeet and Patricia Hercules were reelected to the Board of Directors for a second term, and Alicia Arvidson was elected president-elect.
The Board will meet June 2 to 6 at AORN Headquarters in Denver. Items for the agenda should be submitted to President Vaiden or Executive Director Clifford Jordan at Headquarters. NANCYB. DAVIS, RN, BSN, FNP VICE-PRESIDENT
Strep Throat Treatment Controversy Continues
Nominations Accepted Until June 15
Administration of penicillin for suspected strep throat before a throat culture confirms the diagnosis speeds recovery time, according to the March 1 issue of the Journal of the American Medical A ssochtioa In a study of 44 children given throat cultures because they were suspected of having strep throat, LTC Marvin S. Krober, MC, US Army, Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, randomly assigned the children either to penicillin or placebo treatment for 72 hours. Their symptoms were assessed at 24,48, and 72 hours. Culture results were positive for 26 (54%) of the children. Of these, the 11 children given penicillin were afebrile, showed symptomatic improvement, and had normal throat cultures within 24 hours. The 15 children given placebo had persistence of fever and other symptoms and their throat cultures remained positive for 48 hours. They were therefore considered contagious throughout the 72-hour observation period. The study fuels the medical controversy over treatment of strep throat. Some physicians feel starting their patients on penicillin immediately is worthwhile for rapid relief of symptoms before receipt of throat culture results. Others question the need for a culture at all, but are met with the argument that for children and teenagers, the throat culture is essential because of the risk of developing rheumatic fever. Commenting editorially, Vincent A. Fulginiti, MD, University of Arizona, Tucson, says physicians should be more liberal in prescribing penicillin for relief of symptoms, but that throat cultures should be obtained and therapy discontinued when results are negative.
Nominations for the 1986-’87 ballot of national officers will be open until June 15, according to Nominating Committee Chairman Linda Tollerud. At the next Congress in Anaheim, delegates will elect a president-elect, vice-president, secretary, four Board members, and three Nominating Committee members. All chapters have instructions on how to submit candidates’ names. Nominations will be accepted until June 15.
824
More Physicians Accept Medicare Fees According to an internal report prepared by the Department of Health and Human Services, during November of 1984 a record 66% of physicians treating Medicare patients accepted government-set fees as payment in full and forfeited the right to bill patients for any higher than the maximum set price. During fiscal 1984, 56% of physicians agreed to accept government-set fees as full payment. The highest percentage of participants are: radiologists (41%); optometrists (44%); cardiovascular specialists and neurologists (35%); and pathologists (39%). Among the lowest percentage were general practice physicians (27%); anesthesiologists (2 1%); and miscellaneous surgical specialists ( 18%).