NAFEC Holds Conference to Advocate for Growth of FEC Facilities on National Scale

AUSTIN, Texas – March 20, 2015 – The inaugural National Association of Freestanding Emergency Centers (NAFEC) Conference will be held in Dallas, TX on June 17-18, 2015. The conference, which is co-hosted by the Texas Association of Freestanding Emergency Centers (TAFEC) and the Texas College of Emergency Physicians (TCEP), will highlight the latest news and developments in the world of freestanding emergency centers (FEC), emergency room physicians, investors, and owners of health care facilities.

This open forum event is for anyone interested in learning more about the FEC industry. Attendees can exchange ideas, ask questions, and learn about best practices from the leaders in this area of emergency medicine.

At the conference NAFEC will begin accepting membership applications and inviting input on how best to serve its members across the country. The primary focus of NAFEC will be to raise awareness of FEC facilities and to support expansion of the industry nationally.

The FEC industry was created in Texas in 2009, and has since flourished as a convenient means of access to emergency care. Many states have watched closely as this emergency care model spread across Texas and then Colorado. As more states are considering legislation that effectively creates their own FEC industry, the need for a national association advocating for growth and fair regulation becomes more evident.

Brad Shields, Executive Director of TAFEC, believes that FECs will quickly become a vital component in providing access to emergency care. “In Texas, we are seeing freestanding facilities reach previously underserved markets. As the FEC industry continues to grow, it is logical that providers here in Texas are looking to expand to other states. NAFEC will help pave the way for FEC growth across the country.”

As a pioneer of the industry, TAFEC will take the lead in forming this national entity. TAFEC members have a wealth of knowledge about what it takes to create an FEC facility from the ground up. The combined experience of TAFEC’s members in building out the FEC industry – including collaborating with legislators to establish the laws that guide the industry, educating the general public on the role of FECs in emergency health care, and partnering with other medical services and providers – will be invaluable information that can be applied to other states looking to develop their own FEC industry.

James E. Coles, CAE, TCEP’s Executive Director, has witnessed the growth of FECs and seen their impact on the landscape of emergency medicine. “FECs produce satisfied patients, and also satisfied physicians. Our members enjoy practicing in an FEC setting, and I believe FECs are an innovative form of delivering emergency care.” TCEP is the largest emergency physician organization in Texas, and the third largest in the country.

Visit the NAFEC website for more information about the conference, including registration and sponsorship opportunities.

About TAFEC

The Texas Association of Freestanding Emergency Centers (TAFEC) is a member-based association representing freestanding emergency centers in Texas. The association works with state leaders to safeguard and grow the industry, raises public awareness of the industry, and promotes an overall understanding of the unique benefits of freestanding emergency centers. For more information, visit the TAFEC website at https://tafec.org

About TCEP

The Texas College of Emergency Physicians (TCEP) is an association comprised of over 2050 emergency physicians in Texas. The membership includes emergency physicians who practice in a wide variety of settings, including:  large and small groups, academic centers, urban and rural, certified and non-board certified, residents and medical students.  Despite the varied backgrounds, they work together for the common goal of furthering the specialty of emergency medicine in Texas.  For more information, visit the TCEP website at www.texacep.org.