AORN successfully hosted its business meetings virtually this year, holding two forums and its customary First and Second Houses of Delegates live on the Zoom platform.
The First Forum opened on Saturday, August 7 with a surgical smoke legislative update, a report from the 2020-21 Nominating Committee and a membership report. AORN member Doreen Wagner then presented the Roadmap for Perioperative Research, and members Dr. Risa Benoit and Dr. Kathleen Law presented their task force’s work on defining the role of DNPs in perioperative services.
Members then engaged in open discussion, expressing support for AORN’s research projects.
During the Second Forum on Sunday, members heard from the Bylaws Committee and engaged in a robust discussion on both the proposal to eliminate the current geographic representation obligation for a quorum in the bylaws for special business meetings, and the member-submitted proposal to have a standing and elected bylaws committee.
Members then heard from Linda Groah and Chamberlain University about AORN’s new partnership with Chamberlain to provide perioperative specialty education to prelicensure students. The initiative will begin in January 2022 with three healthcare organizations: Loyola Medicine based in suburban Chicago; Ochsner Health in the New Orleans area and serving the Gulf South; and Emory Decatur Hospital in the Atlanta metropolitan region.
The First and Second House of Delegates were held on Sunday and Monday, August 8 and 9, 2021. During the first House, AORN President Holly Ervine obtained membership approval to turn the gavel and presiding duties to AORN 2020-21 President David Wyatt. Dr. Wyatt then led members through adoption of the House Rules which were modified from previous years to account for members participation via Zoom.
AORN Treasurer Nakeisha Archer delivered the financial report, and then Foundation President Larry Asplin delivered the Foundation report. AORN CFO and Chief Diversity Officer, James Cousin presented AORN’s recent diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts before members heard from Luke Jobman who presented AORN’s new position statement on Health Care Equity.
Many members commented on the position statement before moving to refer it back to committee to consider whether the position statement adequately included diverse groups, while agreeing on the need for equity in health care for all.
During the Second House, members approved a bylaws amendment that would allow for virtual annual membership meetings in extenuating circumstances, to be determined by the AORN president and board of directors when necessary. Members did not approve the proposed change to the quorum requirement for special meetings and similarly declined to approve the proposal to create a standing and elected bylaws committee.
Members also heard 2020-21 President David Wyatt’s officer’s report and the Executive Director report from Linda Groah. At the conclusion of the House, Lizz Pincus recognized Dr. Wyatt and then President Holly Ervine unveiled her 2022 theme: “Advocacy – Take a Stand.”
If you missed any of the business sessions, the recordings and slides are posted at www.aorn.org/delegates.
