How do emergency medicine applicants evaluate residency programs in the post-COVID-19 era?

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Residency Recruitment
• Emergency Medicine

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted traditional medical residency recruitment processes, including interviews and away rotations.
• This disruption necessitated applicants seeking alternative information channels to evaluate emergency medicine (EM) residency programs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the program characteristics deemed important by EM-bound applicants before and after the pandemic.
• To identify the alternative information sources utilized by applicants during pandemic-related recruitment restrictions.

Main Methods:

• A multi-institutional, cross-sectional survey was administered to EM residency applicants.
• Applicant responses regarding program selection factors were compared to 2019 National Residency Match Program data.
• Survey questions addressed the use of alternative information sources during virtual recruitment.

Main Results:

• Respondents prioritized resident morale and faculty quality more than pre-pandemic applicants.
• Key information sources included program/affiliate websites, current residents, faculty/mentor advice, Reddit, and Doximity.
• A response rate of 38.4% was achieved from 414 surveyed applicants across 40 medical schools.

Conclusions:

• EM-bound applicants impacted by the pandemic placed higher value on resident morale and faculty quality.
• Virtual resources and traditional advice became crucial for assessing program culture, reputation, and diversity due to limited in-person visits.
• Residency programs must actively manage their online presence as a vital information source for prospective applicants.