Too Big Too Fast? Potential Implications of the Rapid Increase in Emergency Medicine Residency Positions

Mary R C Haas; Laura R Hopson; Brian J Zink

doi:10.1002/aet2.10400

Too Big Too Fast? Potential Implications of the Rapid Increase in Emergency Medicine Residency Positions

AEM Educ Train. 2019 Nov 22;4(Suppl 1):S13-S21. doi: 10.1002/aet2.10400. eCollection 2020 Feb.

Authors

Mary R C Haas¹, Laura R Hopson¹, Brian J Zink¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Emergency Medicine University of Michigan Medical School Ann Arbor MI.

Abstract

Emergency medicine (EM) has expanded rapidly since its inception in 1979. Workforce projections from current data demonstrate a rapid rise in the number of accredited EM residency programs and trainee positions. Based on these trends, the specialty may soon reach a point of saturation, particularly in urban areas. This could negatively impact future trainees entering the job market as well as the career plans of medical students. More time and resources should be devoted to obtaining accurate projections, assessing the distribution of emergency physicians in rural versus urban settings, and implementing central workforce planning to protect the future of graduating trainees.