J Korean Soc Emerg Med.  2011 Dec;22(6):716-727.

Emergency Physician Turnover in Private Clinics

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Emergency Medicine, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, Korea. kim7155@yahoo.co.kr

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study provided a sample of self-reported turnover rates and their causes for emergency medicine physicians.
METHODS
A questionnaire was distributed to 47 emergency physicians practicing in private clinics via post or e-mail. Self-reported demographic data, workload, causes of turnover, psychosocial and job related stress were collected. 27 emergency physicians participated in this study by completing and returning the questionnaire.
RESULTS
Turnover rate for emergency physician was 14.3%. The mean age of the participants was 45.19+/-3.43, and 25 of the 27 participants were male. The length of time working in a private clinic was 7.14+/-4.02 years. Years since acquisition of emergency board certification was 3.38+/-2.97 years. Work hours per week were 52.70+/-8.99. Income satisfaction and personal well-being were higher than compared to their time practicing medicine as emergency physicians. The average scores for APGAR and psychosocial stress were 5.63+/-2.71 and 2.19+/-0.85, respectively. Reported causes of turnover in emergency clinical practice included negative impacts to quality of life, impact of aging, negative effects of shift work, negative "fishbowl" work environment, etc.
CONCLUSION
The causes of turnover for emergency physicians include concerns regarding health impacts due to shift work, negative impact on quality of life, and concerns related to job security. In order to decrease emergency physician turnover rates, administrative considerations should be put in place to include a decrease in night shift hours per physician, and frequency for senior emergency physician is most important. Investigation into causes of turnover for physicians should not be limited to private clinic operations but should also include administration, research, teaching, and other duties.

Keyword

Emergency physician; Private clinic physician; Turnover

MeSH Terms

Aging
Certification
Electronic Mail
Emergencies
Emergency Medicine
Humans
Hypogonadism
Male
Mitochondrial Diseases
Ophthalmoplegia
Quality of Life
Surveys and Questionnaires
Hypogonadism
Mitochondrial Diseases
Ophthalmoplegia
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