Significant increase in EM spots?

[Lokhtar]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

What do you guys think about the substantial increase in EM spots?

It was less than 1400 five years ago, to over 1700 now. That's a 20%+ increase in spots. I know there is a shortage, but I am wondering if people are worried about oversaturation since the # of spots seems to be increasing faster than virtually any other specialty.

Compare to 2003, when there were 1114 spots - that's an increase of 56% in a decade! Wow.

 

[The White Coat Investor]

What do you guys think about the substantial increase in EM spots?

It was less than 1400 five years ago, to over 1700 now. That's a 20%+ increase in spots. I know there is a shortage, but I am wondering if people are worried about oversaturation since the # of spots seems to be increasing faster than virtually any other specialty.

It's not a problem to get a job somewhere in EM. But it is becoming increasingly more difficult if you want to live in places like Denver, Salt Lake, Portland etc. When I was looking a few years ago the groups in Portland told me they basically only hire moonlighters they already know. So if you want a job there you've got to go moonlight for a year or two, then you MIGHT be brought into a pre-partner track and then you MIGHT be made partner. That was too much risk for me to drag my family out there so I looked elsewhere.

 

[docvino]

i dont really know the answer to this. but i was thinking that the growth might be related to the fact that the specialty is so young.

 

[DeadCactus]

It's a balance. If we make too many, we saturate the market. If we make too few, we risk poaching by other providers. It's a lot easier for mid-levels and "fellowship trained" FP/IM physicians to gain political legitimacy in a vacuum...

I think the current growth is needed but I hope we don't dig our own grave.

 

[DreamingTheLive]

Count me amongst those individuals (heck, maybe I'm the only one) who think this could pose a potential problem down the line, especially if it continues at that rate. That and DNPs/mid-levels....but I digress.

 

[Lokhtar]

I don't think anyone can actually predict the future in healthcare - too many unkowns. But in 2003, there were 1114 first year EM positions. This year there were 1744. So in 10 years, that's an increase of 56%.

That's an unbelievably large increase! I don't know if that is good, bad or neutral but I think it's very interesting - definitely seems to be growing far faster than any other specialty!

 

[Lokhtar]

And for random historical interest - in 1993 - there were only 677 (but the specialty was pretty new then I suppose)...