By integrating these innovative recruitment and retention strategies, ACEP can effectively showcase the value of membership and foster a supportive and influential professional community dedicated to advancing emergency medicine.

Steven B. Kailes, MD, MPH, FACEP

(Florida)

Current Professional Positions: Emergency Physicians and Director, Governmental Relations, Emergency Resources Group (ERG), Jacksonville, FL

Internships and Residency: Emergency Medicine Residency, Naval Medical Center (2004); Surgery Internship, Naval Medical Center (1999)

Medical Degree: MD, Tufts University School of Medicine (1998)

Response

ACEP’s value is not reaching all emergency physicians but, with early education, medical students and residents can better grasp “the why.” This knowledge must start early and ACEP must do better explaining what ACEP provides for our careers. ACEP should seek greater partnerships with residency directors and programs to ensure practicing physicians see the many products of ACEP’s efforts. While some issues are handled locally, many issues cannot be solved in our emergency department or hospital. We must have a community of like-minded individuals working towards shared goals.

As a community “pit doctor,” I believe I have a good understanding of the needs of emergency physicians. We need more practical education on how we get reimbursed to make independent groups stronger and to make everyday doctors’ lives easier. ACEP must collaborate with other organizations to unify and multiply our efforts in areas of common interest. We must educate everyone in emergency medicine about the important role ACEP and affiliated state chapters play in our professional lives, such as being the only emergency medicine representative at the AMA’s RUC or Relative-Value Scale Update Committee. A recent success by the ACEP was averting a decrease of our reimbursement for our 99284 E&M codes, saving an estimated $200 million for emergency physicians in 2023.

If ACEP is already doing this, why be a member? ACEP has a voice for all, but its reach is limited by resources. More members translate to more resources. More resources allow better advocacy and influence. With greater resources, ACEP can satisfy the emergency medicine interests and education emergency physicians desire, as well as offering greater practice support and career guidance.

Our physician profession has lost sight of itself as a community. Too many feel like they just need to take care of themselves and they cannot be a catalyst for change. We have difficult jobs that can be spiritually and emotionally draining, along with debt and responsibilities outside of the workplace. ACEP is a community of physicians working together to make changes. We sometimes disagree on issues but ultimately, we all share similar goals – good pay (with raises) and a safe working environment with the resources we need to care for our patients and ourselves. ACEP must start early to connect and resonate with the needs of emergency physicians.