AAEM-PG Membership Standards

Our group provides emergency physicians with:

• A predefined and reasonable pathway to full partnership that does not exceed three years
• A clear explanation of the review process and criteria used to grant partnership
• A predefined entry and exit process
• Full disclosure of the group’s ownership structure
• A complete explanation of the group’s governance and administrative structure, including how leadership is selected and compensated

For purposes of these principles, a partner is an emergency physician who is a full and equal shareholder with voting rights equal to every other shareholder within the group.

Our organization does not utilize tiered partnerships or weighted voting systems. Every partner has an equitable voice in organizational decisions and an equal vote.

Following a probationary period of no more than one year, complete information regarding group finances and administration is made available to all physicians at least quarterly without requiring a request.

This includes information related to:

• Professional charges and collections
• Revenue and expenses
• Contracted services, including coding, billing, liability insurance, employee benefits, and administrative support
• Administrative compensation

All partners share fully and fairly in the group’s profits according to a compensation formula democratically approved by the partners.

This formula and the approval process remain available for review by the American Academy of Emergency Medicine or the AAEM-PG Board of Directors to ensure continued alignment with the Academy’s Mission and Vision Statements.

Following a probationary period of no more than one year, all physicians are entitled to a clearly defined due process procedure before involuntary termination or removal from the group.*

Physicians are not subject to post-employment restrictive covenants (non-compete agreements) and remain free to practice wherever they choose after leaving the group or if the group loses its hospital contract.

Consistent with AAEM’s principles, the only exception permits a partner or physician to be contractually prohibited from remaining at a hospital if the group loses its contract to an organization with any degree of lay (nonphysician) ownership.

Our group does not require physicians to indemnify (hold harmless) the group, the hospital, or any third party.

*The AAEM Board of Directors reserves the right to reasonably amend the requirements of AAEM-PG membership and the Certificate of Workplace Fairness. Membership recognition and certification are subject to periodic review.

Every physician within our group who is eligible for membership is an active member of the American Academy of Emergency Medicine.

Our group employs only physicians who are board certified or board eligible in emergency medicine through:

• The American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM)
• The American Osteopathic Board of Emergency Medicine (AOBEM)
• The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada

The only exception is layered coverage of non-emergency medicine areas, such as Fast Track services. Regardless of the staffing model, a board-certified or board-eligible emergency medicine physician is present in the emergency department at all times.

Clinical decisions are made solely by physicians within our group, including supervision of advanced practice providers.

Our physicians’ ethical responsibility is first and foremost to their patients, not to any corporation, shareholder, or outside entity.