Study Suggests Family Physicians Can Help Stem Future ER Staffing Shortfall

From the American Academy of Family Practice:

A recent study in Academic Emergency Medicine surmises that a mismatch between future demand for emergency physicians, or EPs, and the number of EPs available will lead to workforce shortages. But according to Perry Pugno, M.D., M.P.H., director of the AAFP Division of Medical Education and a physician workforce expert, family physicians are well-prepared to practice in the emergency medicine setting, especially in rural areas, and could fill those gaps.

“Assessment of Emergency Physician Workforce Needs in the United States, 2005″ (4-page PDF; About PDFs) concludes that the number of board-certified EPs is unlikely to meet the future staffing needs of U.S. emergency departments, or EDs. However, Pugno said that although some family physicians might need more training in critical care procedures or new diagnostic tools, they already are working very well in suburban and rural EDs.

In fact, family physicians may be the preferred emergency care providers in rural areas, Pugno told AAFP News Now, because the programs where emergency medicine residents train tend to be in urban trauma centers with lots of technology and consultants. That means the physicians coming out of these residencies may not be prepared to practice in rural areas, where such resources are scarce, he said.

PD vs. ED charity boxing match halted after fight…in the audience

From CBS13:

A charity boxing event between local law enforcement and emergency department members was marred by a brawl in the audience, forcing the event to close early.

The title fight of the first “Badge Versus Badge” event at the Sacramento Radisson on Friday night sparked an altercation that sent chairs flying, although no serious injuries were reported.

Thomas Gaffney, the event’s organizer, said chaos broke out after the title fight between Larry Ward from the California Medical Facility in Vacaville and Casey Johnson from the Oakland Police Department ended.