Do We Need a New FAQ Page?

We frequently get the general questions about EM posted here.

What is it?
What are the hours?
What's the pay?
Nights and weekends?
And so on.

The FAQ actually doesn't go into this too much as it's mainly geared toward issues about getting into an EM residency.

Do we need a new FAQ page?
Does anyone want to start it out and we'll all bounce it around until it looks good?

I also think we could use one about the differences between EM and Trauma surgery and how if you really love trauma you don't necessarily have an interest in EM.

njac said:

what makes you think that people would actually read the FAQ before asking those questions... I guess it would be easier to just point them that way, but I doubt it would actually decrease the number of threads asking.

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It's true you can only lead the horse to water but having a relevent FAQ to point people to will cut down some of the redundancy. As was mentioned recently SDN is for students and so the goal is not to eliminate every discussion of old issues. However those threads do create 2 significant problems: First the veterans tend to poke fun at the noobs which can sometimes cause discussion to dry up and second, other noobs sometimes try to answer with amusing but erroneous consequences.

Here's what I've got so far. Comments? Suggestions? Text?

Emergency Medicine (EM) is a specialty of medical practice that focuses on the treatment of patients who present to the Emergency Department (ED) with urgent or emergent problems. Just like other specialties such as Internal Medicine or Surgery EM has its own residency and board certification. EM became the 23rd recognized medical specialty in America with the acceptance of the American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM www.abem.org ) as a member of the American Board of Medical Specialties.

If you’re interested in the history of ABEM go here.

As with most specialties there are endless numbers of practice arrangements so the hours, compensation, benefits and other aspects of the working conditions vary greatly. All of the following information is made up of gross generalizations intended to provide some understanding to the student with an interest in EM.

Working Conditions

Emergency Physicians (EPs) are the doctors who make up the specialty of EM. Most EPs work in groups that are contracted to hospitals to provide emergency care in the hospital’s ED. Some EPs are hospital employees but this is less common. There are academic EPs who work in EDs with EM residency programs. Academic EPs have teaching and research responsibilities in addition to their clinical roles. Because of the added academic responsibilities most academic EPs work fewer clinical hours than their community counterparts.

EPs work in shifts. These shifts are usually between 8 and 12 hours although some groups have shifts as long as 24 or 48 hours. Those long shifts are usually done only in places with EDs that are not very busy. EPs are not on call. They don’t maintain offices or patient bases. One perceived benefit of EM is this “shift work” which can allow EPs to better enjoy their time off. This is in contrast to other specialists who must be available to take calls or do admissions during their off hours. One drawback of shift work is that shifts occur on weekends, nights and holidays. There are arrangements that allow EPs to avoid these shifts but in general all EPs, particularly younger EPs with less seniority in their groups, will have to work nights, weekends and holidays.

Compensation for EPs is good given the hours worked and the residency time required to become boarded. Board Certified (BC) or Board Eligible (BE=EPs who have completed residency but have not taken their board exams yet) can expect to earn ~$250,000 to $350,000 per year. In general academic EPs make ~25% less than otherwise comparable community EPs. Aside from this there are many factors that affect overall compensation most of which should not be addressed here.

Practice of EM

EPs treat every age and type of patient imaginable. Any patient who finds their way into the ED whether on foot or by ambulance will be seen by an EP. This results in a great deal of variety. Pediatrics, OB/Gyn, patients with complex medical problems, traumatic injuries, psychiatric issues as well as patients with minor complaints who have no where else to turn all present to EDs. This broad based training and patient population is one of the hallmarks of EM as a specialty.

EPs are adept at a wide array of procedures needed to treat and stabilize patients.

Need procedure list. Didn't SouthernDoc post one a while back?

EPs do not take patients to the OR nor do EPs manage patients during their inpatient stays.

EM2BE said:

If not already mentioned, fellowships EM physicians tend to do if they do one.

If pre-med (not in med school yet), what they should be doing.
If in medical school 1st and 2nd yrs, what they should be doing.
If in med school 3rd and 4th yrs, what they should be doing.

Salary threads (seems to keep coming up...I know it changes from year to year, but maybe just a few recent figures)

Ok, this was the last edit for the time being.

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Can someone post a link for a website with EP pay? I don't know any 'cause I no longer care.