CHANGES IN ACADEMIC ATTRIBUTES ASSOCIATED WITH ESTABLISHMENT OF DEPARTMENTS OF EMERGENCY-MEDICINE

Objective: To test the hypothesis that establishment of academic depar tments of emergency medicine (EM) is associated with improvements in a ttributes valued by traditional academic medicine. Methods: Cross-sect ional, observational analysis of academic departments of EM at all acc redited allopathic medical schools, as of July 1, 1996. Nonrespondents were mailed questionnaires three times, followed by phone contact. Al l variables were examined as before-after comparisons associated with department formation. Findings were reported as absolute differences, bounded by 99% confidence intervals (99% CIs), adjusted for multiple c omparisons. Results: Of 50 departments, 49 responded. Department forma tion was associated with a 25% (99% CI 5% to 46%) increase in accredit ed EM residencies, a 33% (99% CI 9% to 56%) increase in extramural gra nt funding, and 46% (99% CI 23% to 69%) and 34% (99% CI 8% to 58%) inc reases in departmental representation on medical school curriculum and promotions committees, respectively. The mean increase in academic fa culty full-time equivalents (FTEs) was 6.7 (99% CI 3.3 to 10.1). There were average increments of 2.1 FTEs (99% CI 1.4 to 2.7) and 0.8 FTEs (99% CI 0.4 to 1.1) attaining senior ranks of associate professor and professor, respectively. With a top possible Likert scale score of 3, departmental status was associated with essentially identical improvem ents in the quality of faculty [2.6 (99% CI 2.4 to 2.8)], EM residents [2.6 (99% CI 2.4 to 2.8)], student teaching [2.7 (99% CI 2.5 to 2.9)] , and overall academic productivity [2.8 (99% CI 2.7 to 3.0)]. Conclus ion: Establishment of academic departments of EM at medical schools is associated with quantitatively and statistically significant improvem ents in many academic attributes that are mutually beneficial for both the institution and the Specialty.