62days since
AAPA Annual Meeting - May 29 - June 3, 2010, Atlanta, Georgia

Bylaws

BYLAWS OF SOCIETY OF PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS CARING FOR THE ELDERLY (SPACE)

Article I. Name

The name and title of this organization shall be the Society of Physician Assistants Caring of the Elderly, herein referred to as the Society.

Article II. Purposes

Section 1. General Purpose

The purpose of this organization is to promote and enhance quality care of elderly patients of physician assistants.

Section 2. Specific Purpose

The specific purposes of the Society shall be to:

  • establish and maintain a representative organization for physician assistants (Pas) who are employed in the area of geriatric medicine or have a specific interest in the special needs and care of the elderly
  • to gather and disseminate information related to the issues affecting practice of quality assurance , reimbursement and benefits
  • to serve as an educational resource for practicing physician assistants through offering of continuing medical education focused on the care and special needs of the elderly population
  • to serve as an educational resource of individual physician assistants interested in expanding their knowledge and developing expertise in the care of the elderly population
  • to serve as a resource for physician assistant educators and training programs in the development of training materials and clinical sites focused on the care of elderly patients
  • to serve as an educational resource for physicians and other health care providers interested in a) information of utilization of physician assistants as providers of health care to the elderly population and /or b) hiring a physician assistant to provide care to an elderly population
  • to develop and maintain a speakers bureau on topics related to caring of the elderly and the utilization of physician assistants as the health care providers for the aging population
  • to serve as a resource on the profession to other medical associations and societies
  • collect demographic data to share with the PA profession and other interested agencies or representative organizations
  • to provide support to physician assistants caring of the elderly population in primary care and specialty practice sites and in all settings
  • to establish liaisons with the American Academy of Physician Assistants, The American Geriatric Society, and the National Conference of Gerontological Nurse Practitioners

Article III: Membership

The Society shall be representative of physician assistants, student and other interested individuals involved and interested in the care of the elderly population who meet the specified Bylaws and requirements by the Board of Directors.

Section 1: Membership categories in the Society shall consists of a) Founding members b) Fellow members, c) Affiliate members, d) Student members, and e) Honorary members, and such other members as may be recognized by the Board of Directors.

Section 2: Founding member. A Founding member is a Fellow member of the Society who joined and paid dues during the first fiscal year of the Society's enactment

Section 3: Fellow member. A Fellow member is a licensed physician assistant or graduate of an approved physician assistant training program whose principal job involves the care fo elderly patients or who as a physician assistant health care provider has a particular interest in the health of older adults. Fellow members shall be entitled to the privilege of the floor, to hold formal office and to vote.

Section 4: Affiliate member. An Affiliate member is an individual or organization who is engaged in either the care fo the elderly or selling of products or services related to the care of older adults, who does not qualify for any other membership category. Associate members shall be entitled to the privilege of the floor, but shall not be entitled to vote or hold office.

Section 5: Student member. A student member is a person presently enrolled in a physician assistant training program or a post-graduate residency or fellowship program. Student members shall be entitle tot the privilege of the floor, but have no vote and hold no office.

Section 6: Honorary member. An honorary member shall be a person who has rendered outstanding service to the physician assistant profession and/or the Society in the area of care to older adults. Such members shall be nominated by an active member of the Society and approved by a 2/3 majority of the Board of Directors. They shall be entitled to t he privilege of the floor, but shall not be entitled to vote or hold office. They shall be exempt from paying dues.

Section 7: All applications for membership shall be made in writing on an application form approved by the Society. All applications shall be reviewed by the Board or its designate, which shall then determine applicant eligibility based on the membership requirements. No applicant shall be denied on the basis of gender, age, race, religion, handicap, creed, color, national origin or sexual preference. Appeals will be acted upon by the Board of Directors, whose decision will be final.

Section 8: Annual dues, assessments and method of payment shall be established by the Board of Directors fo reach class of membership.

Section 9: Any active member whose dues are in arrears ninety(90) days after the billing date may be terminated from membership. Any member whose dues, late fees, or assessments are unpaid at the time fo any meeting shall be ineligible to vote or hold office

Article IV. Discipline

Section 1. To protect the public against misconduct, any member or other interested party may, in good faith, prefer charges against a member who is believed to have violated the principles of medical ethics or professional conduct, the rules and regulations of the Society, or who is believed to be otherwise guilty of conduct justifying censure, suspension, or expulsion from the Society. Such charges must be in writing, must state the acts or conduct in questions and be signed by the accuser or the accusers. Such charges must be filed with the Secretary of the Association who shall distribute and copy to the President, each member of the Board and to the accused member. A date shall be set thereafter within a reasonable time for a meeting of the Board, whether in person or by electronic communication, for the purposes of considering such charges. The Board shall determine whether the charges are frivolous or groundless, in which case further action against them member would not be pursued. In those cases where there appears to be merit to the charges, the Board shall allow the accuser and the accused sixty (60) days to respond with written testimony and shall conclude its hearing within thirty (30) days thereafter. A decision shall be rendered by a majority vot e fo the Board and shall constitute its verdict. The Board may then exonerate, censure, suspend or expel the accused from the Society, or may direct a further hearing before a committee. The Board shall issue a resolution which shall be signed by the President and Vice President. Any member who is under sentence of suspension or expulsion shall not be entitled to any of the rights or benefits of the Society or be permitted to take part in any proceedings until he or she has been reinstated.

Section 2: Any member who has been censured, suspended or expelled shall have forty five (445) days from the date of the resolution to appeal such action in writing to the Board. The Board of Directors, or a committee appointed by them, shall designate and item for a hearing of the appeal and , after giving the appellant reasonable opportunity to present additional or new evidence, shall, by a majority vote, either sustain or reverse such censure, suspension or expulsion. The decision of the Board of committee shall be final, and shall be communicated to the appellant in writing within thirty (30) calendar days from the date the appeal is considered.

Article V. Meetings of Members

Section 1. The members shall hold meetings at such time and such places as shall be designated by the Board, but in no event shall there be less than one such meeting in any calendar year, for the purpose of transacting such business as may properly come before said meeting.

Section 2. Notice of meetings shall be in writing. A copy of the notice shall be given to each member no less than sixty (60) days before the meeting date. Special meeting of the Society may be called by the President or by order of a majority of the Board of Directors.

Section 3. A special meeting of the Society may be requested by a simple majority of the fellow members.

Section 4. Each Fellow member is entitled to one bote on meeting motions.

Section 5. The President shall preside over all meetings of the membership.

Section 6. A simple vote of the Fellow members present shall be sufficient to pass upon a motion made at any meeting of the Society.

Article VI. Government

Section 1. The Government of the Society shall be vested in the Board of Directors as provided in Article VII of the Bylaws.