Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 9, 2025
Setup and Execution of the Rapid Cycle Deliberate Practice Death Notification Curriculum
Published on: August 5, 2020
Emergency Physicians and Hospice and Palliative Medicine: A Growing Trend in Fellowship Training
Alexander Zirulnik1, Caroline Meehan2, Daniel Markwalter3
1Department of Emergency Medicine (A.Z., J.B.), Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA; Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Gerontology (A.Z., J.B., J.G.), Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA.
Context:
Emergency Medicine (EM) has played a foundational role in Hospice and Palliative Medicine (HPM) since the subspecialty's formal recognition. Yet, little is known about the growth of EM-trained physicians pursuing HPM fellowship.
Objectives:
To quantify trends in EM applicants and successful fellowship match outcomes to HPM fellowships from 2016 to 2023 and compare them with other primary specialties.
Methods:
A retrospective analysis of National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) data was conducted for all HPM fellowship applicants from 2016 to 2023. Trends in active applicants, successful match rates, and year-over-year growth were evaluated by specialty.
Results:
From 2016 to 2023, EM applicants to HPM fellowships increased by 400%, from 11 to 55 applicants, far outpacing overall growth across specialties (89%). Successful EM match rates remained high (average 85.4%), peaking at 92.9% in 2022. EM also showed the fastest growth in matched applicants, with an average annual increase of 27.2%.
Conclusion:
EM is one of the fastest-growing sources of applicants to HPM fellowships, reflecting rising recognition of palliative care's value in acute care. This trend has important implications for workforce planning, specialty integration, and the future of dual-trained EM-HPM clinicians.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Continuing Care
01:28Current Trends in Nursing I
01:29Issues And Trends In Healthcare Delivery System
Cost Containment
Payment for healthcare services has historically promoted adoption of costly and often unnecessary or inefficient...
01:27Ethical Issues
Ethical Concerns in Healthcare:
01:30Specialized Care Centers and Settings-II
Rural health centers are specialized care facilities in remote locations with very few medical personnel. The primary care providers who run the centers are mostly Registered Nurse Practitioners. Here, emergency treatment is provided to critically ill or injured patients before they are transferred to the closest hospital. Fortunately, due to advancement in technology, many rural healthcare facilities and professionals have easy access to diagnostic and treatment...
01:30Current Trends in Nursing II