EM residents can deliver better care than inexperienced untrained physicians can. We believe that EM is best practiced by the trained EM physician. We realize that what is best does not always correspond with what is possible. But by stating what we believe is best practice, we are making our opinion known. Now we must test our resolve.
Financial debt is a major stress on our trainees.
It influences career choice. Eliminating moonlighting may cause residents to forego fellowships, lower paying academic jobs and advanced degrees. Research in EM and other specialties may suffer. The impact on our future may be profound - and unanticipated. Decades ago, EM became the first specialty to require 24-hour presence of an attending in academic programs.