policies and procedures.

THE FOLLOWING ARE THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES OF THE SOUTH DAKOTA ACADEMY OF PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS, HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AS THE SDAPA. SDAPA ENCOURAGES MEMBERSHIP IN THE PARENT ORGANIZATION, THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS, HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AS AAPA.

REPRESENTATION:

No individual, officer, chairperson, or committee member shall communicate as official representation of SDAPA without the approval of the President after appropriate consultation with the Board of Directors.

All correspondence on SDAPA stationery shall reflect current policy of SDAPA. Therefore, SDAPA stationary will be used only for official business.

Any legal advice provided to a member of SDAPA shall be provided at the expense of the individual, unless the cause is believed to have significant ramifications on the Physician Assistant profession. The evaluation of individual situations shall be decided by the President and the Board of Directors.

SDAPA ADDRESS MAILING LISTS:

Use of the SDAPA mailing list and/or membership list is available to paid members of the SDAPA. Use by nonmembers shall be permissible upon review and approval of the Board of Directors.

Any member of the SDAPA may have their name removed from the mailing list upon written request.

The mailing list shall not be available for the purpose of sales promotion, political activism, sale or use of tobacco, drugs or liquor, pornography, quackery, fundraising or telephone solicitation.

AFFILIATIONS:

SDAPA grants to affiliate organizations, caucuses, and the student academy the right to operate as a subsidiary unit of SDAPA after review by the Board of Directors and approval of the membership. In doing so, SDAPA reserves the right to monitor their adherence to SDAPA policies and procedures. Accordingly, each affiliate organization will submit a copy of its governing documents, and within twenty days, a copy of each revision of said documents to SDAPA Board of Directors for review.

SDAPA SCHOLARSHIP:

SDAPA shall establish and maintain adequate resources for the monetary assistance for Physician Assistant students.

The SDAPA Scholarship Committee shall consider applications from any South Dakota Physician Assistant student, who is likely to reside in South Dakota after graduation and provide medical services in a rural or federally designated manpower shortage area.

CERTIFICATION:

SDAPA endorses the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) certification examination as the entrance for all Physician Assistants entering practice. SDAPA also encourages its membership to maintain current NCCPA certification.

Public accountability and continued competence is encouraged by the utilization of continuing medical education, self-assessment, and re-certification examination through NCCPA.

COMMITTEES:

SDAPA Committees:

Continuing Medical Education
Elections
Ethics
Government Affairs
Membership
Minority Affairs
Public Relations
Physician Assistant Advisory

All committees of SDAPA shall consist of a chairperson and committee members. Appointments will be announced by the President in July of each year with ongoing evaluation of the chair and committee members by the President and Board of Directors.

Each committee chair shall be responsible for the presentation of a report to each Board of Directors meeting. This report should detail all actions taken by the committee. Each committee report shall be presented in written format to the secretary, prior to the meeting or immediately after the report is presented.

COMMITTEE RESPONSIBILITIES:

Continuing Medical Education:

Continuing Medical Education shall be defined as educational activities which maintain, develop, or increase skills and professional performance or develop relationships that a Physician Assistant utilizes to provide service to patients and the public.

The Continuing Medical Education Committee shall be responsible for the development of a curriculum for each CME meeting which meets the defined criteria. The curriculum will be presented to the executive secretary six to nine months prior to the scheduled meeting to allow for adequate time to engage speakers and arrange for financial support.

The Pharmaceutical Liaison Sub-Committee shall have the responsibility of identifying those companies which are able to provide financial assistance and educational speakers for the Continuing Medical Education seminars held biannually.

The office shall maintain a current updated list of each company and the contact person, including address and phone number.

When possible, the Continuing Medical Education Committee will maintain a list of topics for which each company has available speakers.

Election Committee:

The Election Committee, in conjunction with the Executive Secretary, shall prepare and mail ballots in numbered sequence to all voting members of SDAPA thirty days prior to the election.

All ballots shall provide space for write in candidates.

All candidates shall be listed in alphabetic order on the ballot.

Ballots may be returned by mail or returned at the meeting prior to the election.

The Election Committee shall be responsible for informing all candidates of the qualifications required for the office for which the candidate is campaigning.

The Election Committee shall be responsible for the certification of eligibility of all self declared and write in candidates.

The Election Committee shall be responsible for all teller functions during the election process, including the counting of ballots and certifying all ballots are valid. They shall present the results of the vote to the Secretary of SDAPA.

The Nomination Sub-Committee shall be responsible for preparing a slate of candidates for each office open in the upcoming election. They shall be responsible for the certification of eligibility of each candidate for office.

The Nomination Sub-Committee will submit two names for each office open to election.

The slate of candidates shall be presented to the Election Committee no less than forty-five days prior to the election. This slate will also be presented in written form to the Executive Secretary of SDAPA.

Self-declaration may be made to either the Election Committee or to the Nomination Sub-Committee for inclusion on the ballot.

Ethics Committee:

The Ethics Committee shall be responsible for the monitoring of any infractions which may be in conflict with the SDAPA Code of Ethics. (See back cover of this attachment for Code of Ethics

The Impairment Sub-Committee shall have the responsibility of assisting the impaired practitioner who is identified and is unable to safely practice because of physical or mental illness, deterioration through the aging process, loss of motor skills from chronic illness, or through the use of drugs and/or alcohol. They shall serve as advocates for the restoration of the practitioner to patient care when applicable.

Government Affairs:

Legislative Sub-Committee:

The Legislative Sub-Committee shall be responsible for the monitoring of all issues of state and national importance, which may affect the practice of Physician Assistants in the state.

This sub-committee will be in contact with the lobbyist each legislative session to monitor all bills introduced which may affect the practice environment of Physician Assistants.

This sub-committee shall work with the Executive Secretary to set up the annual Legislative Reception each January in Pierre.

This sub-committee shall advise the President and Board of Directors of any legislative or statewide issues that are of concern to the general membership.

This sub-committee will communicate with SDAPA members in a timely fashion to remind them of pertinent issues in the upcoming legislative session that should be addressed personally to their individual legislators.

By-Laws Sub-Committee:

The By-Laws Sub-Committee shall be responsible for the continuous updating of the Constitution, By-Laws, and Policies and Procedures of the SDAPA in keeping with the recommendations of the parent organization, AAPA.

Reimbursement Sub-Committee:

The Reimbursement Sub-Committee shall be responsible for the ongoing monitoring of all issues related to reimbursement for Physician Assistant services in South Dakota. They will be responsible for attending any seminars and meetings which address these topics.

This sub-committee will be responsible for communication with the South Dakota Departments of Health and Social Services and HCFA about issues related to reimbursement.

This sub-committee shall be responsible for notifying PAs of issues which could affect their practice after consultation with the President and the Board of Directors.

Membership:

Membership Services provided to paid members shall include quarterly newsletter, reduced registration for SDAPA sponsored CME, membership card and pin, unified voice on legislative issues, networking, central phone and mailing address for SDAPA issues, scholarship program, and impaired practitioner services.

The Membership Committee shall be responsible for the recruitment and retention of members in SDAPA. They shall compile a membership book with current pictures and membership information which will be mailed to individual members annually.

They shall maintain a current list of all SDAPA members, addresses, and telephone numbers for mailing purposes.

This committee shall be responsible for the annual dues letter, which is mailed in December of each year, and for monitoring all renewed memberships for the following year.

Minority Affairs:

The Minority Affairs Committee shall consist of at least one individual who is a minority and any other members of the SDAPA who are interested in supporting the efforts and problems encountered which involve either minorities or ethnic bias.

Public Relations:

The Public Relations Committee shall be responsible for promotion of the Physician Assistant profession.

The Public Relations Committee shall be responsible for maintaining an annual scrapbook, which chronicles all ongoing activities of Physician Assistants in South Dakota.

This committee shall be responsible for the annual PA Day activities and distribution of news releases pertinent to the day, which recognizes PAs around the state.

Physician Assistant Advisory Committee:

The Physician Assistant Advisory Committee shall consist of three members of SDAPA who are presented to the South Dakota Board of Medical and Osteopathic Examiners, by the President and Board of Directors, to express to the Board all concerns of SDAPA in reference to rules, regulations, and issues which pertain to Physician Assistants.

The PAAC shall present a report to all SDAPA Board of Director Meetings on issues which pertain to the membership and are of importance to SDAPA and the practice of Physician Assistants in South Dakota.

Members of the PAAC are chosen by the SDBMOE from a list of candidates presented by the President and Board of Directors when a vacancy on the PAAC occurs. PAAC members will serve as in accordance with codified law.

HOUSE OF DELEGATES:

Any member of SDAPA who is representing the general membership at a funded meeting shall be responsible for attending all sessions of that meeting. They will be responsible for submitting a written report of the activities of that meeting to the Board of Directors next meeting and submit for the newsletter a summary of actions taken or considered that may or may not impact the members of SDAPA.

CHIEF DELEGATE:

The Chief Delegate shall be elected each February to represent the issues pertinent to South Dakota at the Annual AAPA House of Delegates.

The Chief Delegate must have served at least one term as delegate prior to being eligible to serve as the Chief Delegate.

The Chief Delegate must be a fellow member of SDAPA and AAPA at the time of the election to the position.

The Chief Delegate will be responsible for coordination of all House activities, representation at various hearing and social functions, and for continual coverage of the House seat at all open sessions of the House of Delegates.

Chief Delegate will receive for his/her effort compensation, which pays for the registration for the House of Delegates, airfare to and from the AAPA meeting, and housing for the days which the House is in session. Meals will be reimbursed at a per diem rate as per the federal registry allowance.

When possible, arrange for airfare in advance of 21 days to allow for the lowest rates available. Meeting registration should be sent in advance to arrange for the lowest possible rate.

DELEGATE:

The Delegate will be elected each February to represent the issues pertinent to South Dakota at the Annual AAPA House of Delegates.

The Delegate must have served at least one term as an Alternate Delegate prior to being eligible to serve as the Delegate.

The Delegate must be a Fellow member of SDAPA and AAPA at the time of the election to the position.

The Delegate will be responsible for working with the Chief Delegate to see that all House activities, hearings and social functions, and coverage of the House seat at all open sessions of the House of Delegates are maintained.

The Delegate will receive for his/her effort compensation, which pays for the registration for the House of Delegates, airfare to and from the AAPA meeting, and housing for the days which the House is in session. Meals will be reimbursed at a per diem rate as per the federal registry allowance.

When possible, arrange for airfare in advance of 21 days to allow for the lowest rates available. Meeting registration should be sent in advance to arrange for the lowest possible rate.

ALTERNATE DELEGATE:

Two Alternate Delegates will be elected each February to represent the issues pertinent to South Dakota at the Annual AAPA House of Delegates.

The Alternates should have expressed some interest in serving as an Alternate Delegate prior to being eligible to serve in the position. The Alternate should have a keen understanding of the issues being decided at the House of Delegates and be prepared to serve at the House in any capacity requested by the Chief Delegate.

The Alternates must be Fellow members of SDAPA and AAPA at the time of the election to the position.

The Alternates will be responsible for working with the Delegates to see that all House activities, hearings and social functions, and coverage of the House seat at all open sessions of the House of Delegates are maintained. The Alternates will be available to fill in on the House floor whenever the Delegate or Chief Delegate is required to be elsewhere.

SDAPA may send as many Alternates as it wishes to attend the AAPA House of Delegates, but will only fund two elected positions at a flat rate established by the Board.

REGIONAL MEETINGS:

As member of the parent organization, the AAPA sponsors regional meetings to address the problems encountered in each region. SDAPA is a member of the North Central Region and is expected to have representation at each of the meetings. SDAPA will send two Fellow members and one Student member to the regional meeting annually. When possible, the President of SDAPA will attend this meeting. If the President is unable to attend, he will make the appointments, with the direction of the Board of Directors.

Representatives to the North Central Regional meeting shall be funded by the Academy. Airfare or mileage and hotel expenses as well as reimbursement for meals at a per diem rate as per the federal registry allowance.

When possible, arrange for airfare in advance of 21 days to allow for the lowest rates available. Meeting registration should be sent in advance to arrange for the lowest possible rate.

CONSTITUENT CHAPTER OFFICERS WORKSHOP (CCOW)

CCOW is held in Washington, DC, each fall for the purpose of introducing legislative issues to officers from the constituent chapters. At that meeting, representatives from each state visit on Capitol Hill with the Senators and Representatives from their home state to identify issues of pertinence to the Physician Assistant Profession.

SDAPA will send two representatives to the CCOW meeting each year. When possible, the President-Elect and one other officer, board member or committee chairperson will be considered.

When funding is available, one Student member shall also be sent to CCOW. The student will be chosen after consultation with the student advisor and the Student Association.

Funding for CCOW will include airfare and housing. Meals will be reimbursed at a per diem rate as per federal registry.

When possible, arrange airfare in advance of 21 days to allow for the lowest rates available. Meeting registration should be sent in advance to arrange for the lowest possible rate.

Reviewed/Updated: 2-18-99 updated, 10/28/98