ACEP Leadership & Advocacy Conference 2024 Recap

THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF EMERGENCY PHYSICIANS BELIEVES

Hospitals and emergency physicians should work together to promote staffing of hospitals and their emergency departments with highly qualified individuals of diverse race, ethnicity, sex (including gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy, marital status), nationality, religion, age, disability, or other characteristics that do not otherwise preclude an individual emergency physician from providing equitable, competent patient care.

Attaining diversity with well qualified physicians in emergency medicine that reflects our multicultural society is a desirable goal.
Health professionals, educators, and administrators must recognize and address institutional barriers and policies that may contribute to under-representation of certain groups in the workforce.
To maintain and increase the supply of primary care physicians who care for vulnerable populations over the coming decades, educational and health care entities should establish and promote pipelines to develop and support future professionals.
A diverse workforce can display increased cultural competence across cultural practices, languages, and social issues.
Culturally congruent health care interactions can improve adherence, trust, and patient experience, thereby expanding quality of, and access to, care for traditionally hesitant or disengaged populations.

Ultimately, allowing Rep. Murphy to participate in LAC was consistent with the College’s “walking the walk” of encouraging respectful listening and dialogue on difficult issues, even if we ultimately end up disagreeing. The College, just like our society, is composed of individuals with a wide variety of experiences, perspectives, and beliefs. One of the greatest challenges is listening to others, especially those with whom we disagree. Those who choose to live in an echo chamber are doomed to never learn or understand perspectives beyond those they currently know.

ACEP members likewise share a diversity of opinions on a number of issues. The College chooses to actively solicit and listen to the opinions of our members. Balancing the different perspectives of members on issues where there is no consensus is one of the greatest challenges for the College. When we discuss and consider issues that represent the diverse interests of our members, the College remains committed to the three core foundations upon which it was founded and which unify our members: ensuring our place as a unique specialty in the House of Medicine, advocating for emergency physicians, and advancing the care of patients.

If you want to be part of the incredible voice of emergency physicians that ACEP carries to Capitol Hill each year, then join us next year for LAC from April 27-29, 2025, in Washington, D.C.!