Academic emergency medicine staffing nonacademic emergency department sites: a national survey

Changing health care markets have threatened academic health centers and their traditional focus on teaching and research.

To determine the number of academic emergency medicine departments (AEMDs) that staff additional non-academic ED sites and to determine whether clinical reimbursement monies from those ED sites are used for academic purposes.

A two-part survey of all 119 academic EM programs listed in the 1997-1998 Graduate Medical Education Directory was conducted. Questionnaires were addressed to each AEMD chair. AEMDs and ED sites were characterized. Hiring difficulties, EM faculty academic productivity, and use of ED site reimbursement monies for academic activities were assessed.

Ninety-nine of 119 (83%) AEMDs responded. Twenty-three (23%) AEMDs staffed 28 added ED sites. These sites tended to be urban (65%), with moderate volumes (25,000-35,000 patients/year), and had an equal or better reimbursement rate than the AEMD (89%). ED sites were commonly staffed by academic EM faculty (79%) and EM residents (29%). Ninety-six percent of the AEMDs had hired additional faculty; hiring new faculty was considered easy. Academic productivity at AEMDs with added ED sites was reported as unchanged. Reimbursement monies from these ED sites were commonly used for faculty salary support, faculty development, and EM research and residency activities.

Academic EM departments are often affiliated with nonacademic ED sites. These additional sites are commonly staffed by academic EM faculty and EM residents. Academic productivity does not appear to decrease when additional ED sites are added. Reimbursement monies from these ED sites commonly supports academic activities.