American College of Emergency Physicians

The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) is a national medical specialty society representing approximately 20,000 physicians who specialize in emergency medicine. Founded in 1968, the ACEP is committed to improving the quality of emergency care through continuing education, research, and public education. The College is committed to serving as the leading continuing education source for emergency physicians and the primary information resource on developments in the specialty; assisting emergency physicians in promoting improvements and adapting to changes in the emergency practice environment, including clinical guidelines; providing support to emergency medicine training programs, particularly in the areas of funding and training standards; and fostering and supporting public education about emergency medicine. The College is also dedicated to expanding communications with other providers of emergency care such as physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and EMS personnel; providing support to chapters, especially in advocacy, chapter management, and leadership development; developing and implementing a federal advocacy agenda that is prioritized and adequately funded; and fostering and promoting the ethical practice of emergency medicine including advocating that third party payers�’ policies and procedures protect the interests of emergency patients and recognize the role, responsibility, and rights of emergency physicians. In addition, the College sponsors numerous courses providing in-depth clinical and practice management information designed specifically for emergency physicians and sponsors an annual Scientific Assembly that serves as an educational forum for physicians, nurses, and ancillary emergency health care practitioners, offering clinical and management courses at the basic, intermediate, and advanced levels. The College also offers a home study series that provides physicians with the opportunity to complete selected topics at their own pace; in addition, the ACEP provides a self-assessment examination in emergency medicine as an aid in determining physicians’ future continuing medical education needs. The College’s Public Affairs Department in Washington D.C. advocates for public policy positions that advance the interests of emergency physicians and their patients; works with other health care organizations and the news media to increase the public’s understanding and awareness of the specialty of emergency medicine, providing information on public health issues, injury prevention, and safety guidelines; and represents the College before the U.S. Congress and other agencies of the federal government and the White House. The ACEP offers a variety of books, manuals, and serials for emergency medicine professionals on subjects ranging from management issues to clinical information. In addition, the ACEP publishes the specialty’s clinical journal, “Annals of Emergency Medicine,” which features original research, clinical reports, case studies, practical methods and techniques, and opinions about emergency medicine. The College’s newsletter, entitled “ACEP News,” provides current information on the practice environment, health system reform issues, College activities, and other topics of interest to ACEP members. The ACEP also provides a variety of consumer informational materials including public education handouts, educational flyers, and fact sheets. In addition, the College established the Emergency Medicine Foundation (EMF) in 1973 as a means of providing emergency medicine with a strong, ongoing educational and research base. The Foundation works in partnership with researchers and research institutions to provide patient-centered research in emergency medicine. EMF grant programs provide funding for investigators ranging from medical students to emergency medicine teaching faculty.