American College of Emergency Physicians
Editor’s Picks – Must Read Articles
These articles are meant to capture the diverse perspectives on various workforce issues and to encourage discussion among our members as we seek innovative solutions for the future of EM.
A Look into the Past, Present, and Future of the EM Job Market
Dr. Tom Belanger has done an interesting analysis of emergency physician employment structure - based off of a job prediction tool he created. The quiz was posted on Facebook, and some respondents from the section’s engagED community, and purported to try and predict the EM physician job. His goal was to gain better understanding of the employment models in EM, and the effects that the employment structures have on physicians’ lives and careers.
Young ER doctors risk their lives on the pandemic’s front lines. But they struggle to Find Jobs
Our workforce issues have even made it into mainstream press. The Washington Post published this article in January. Others are watching and it will help our case to get support of the public.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/01/04/er-doctors-covid-jobs/ Last accessed May 19, 2021.
The Emergency Medicine Workforce: Shortage Resolving, Future Surplus Expected
This study preceded the ACEP Workforce study report. It predicted a future surplus of emergency physicians. We need to know that this forecast is not only from ACEP, but also other leaders in emergency medicine, so we now have multiple sources citing the same issue. It is time for action to resolve this. ACEP does have some proposals as mentioned, however, in my opinion it will not resolve without physicians taking back emergency medicine.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0736467920300068
National Study of the Emergency Physician Workforce, 2020
The following article was written by Dr. Carlos Camargo, who is one of our Emergency Medicine Workforce Section members. We published our preview of this in the newsletter last year, and now we have the full article for everyone to review. He describes the lack of emergency physician presence in the rural areas of the United States, and that not much has improved on this front from their previous study approximately 10 years ago. It is also projected to worsen. With the current projected oversupply of emergency physicians (more pronounced in urban locations), I would hope that some of our emergency medicine colleagues would consider working or supplementing their work in rural areas. These patients are often very gracious and appreciative of your help and expertise. It really is like medicine was 30-40 years ago!
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0196064420305011
