Residency-trained emergency physicians: Their demographics, practice evolution, and attrition from emergency medicine

Concern exists about the ability of Emergency physicians (EPs) to maintain a career in Emergency Medicine (EM) over a professional lifetime. The objec tives of this study were to assess the practice characteristics of residenc y trained EPs, to, document how the EP's responsibilities evolve throughout a career, and to assess career longevity. A retrospective cohort study usi ng a mailed questionnaire was used to document practice characteristics, ev olution of responsibility, and career longevity from all physicians who gra duated from allopathic EM residencies between 1978-1988 (inclusive). Non-re sponders were compared to responders to assess the extent of selection bias . The response rate was 58.1% (1635/2812), There were no differences betwee n responders and non-responders on any of five demographic variables. Respo nders who were more likely to remain in Ehl included those who had higher r eimbursement, were board certified in EM, or did not train in another speci alty or do a fellowship outside of EM. Throughout the 15-year careers studi ed, EPs noted a significant shift in the time spent doing clinical work (de creased) and the time doing administrative work (increase), The attrition f rom EM practice for this cohort was < 1% per year. (C) 1999 Elsevier Scienc e Inc.