As our specialty evolves, many practice environments are changing with emergency physicians not always feeling supported. The pandemic also contributed to isolation, sometimes even from our families. There are a variety of other issues that contribute to isolation such as difficult cases with poor outcomes and the polarization of attitudes or mindsets when confronted with differing opinions. Working to ensure that every member has a voice, an opportunity to connect with other members that have similar interests or needs and feels supported by ACEP is a key priority. There are far more components of our shared experience that unite us rather than divide us that should be highlighted, celebrated, and part of the infrastructure we provide for our members.

Bing S. Pao, MD, FACEP

Current Professional Positions: Senior Director of Provider Relations, Vituity; Employee, Pinnacle Emergency Physicians; Independent Contractor, Acute Care Specialists; Clinical Faculty, UC San Diego and UC Riverside

Internships and Residency: Internal Medicine Internship, University of Colorado Health Science Center (1993); Emergency Medicine Residency, University of California San Diego (1996)

Medical Degree: MD, Duke University (1992)

Response: The two most pressing issues facing ACEP members are:

1. Improving working conditions for emergency physicians to enhance physician wellness
2. Ensuring the financial sustainability of emergency medicine

Improving working conditions includes creating safer workplaces, reducing boarding, eliminating redundant administrative tasks, increasing autonomy, and ensuring sufficient resources.

To address workplace safety, I will urge ACEP to:

• Advocate for a national reporting system on emergency department workplace violence.
• Promote effective hospital protocols and training to prevent violence.
• Support legislation increasing penalties for assaulting health care workers.

To address boarding and overcrowding, I will insist that ACEP:

• Advocate for CMS to require solutions to boarding as a condition of Medicare/Medicaid participation.
• Push for financial incentives akin to hospital core measures.
• Leverage ACEP’s accreditation program to encourage hospitals to implement evidence-based boarding solutions.

Regarding administrative burdens, I support ACEP’s adoption of technologies, including artificial intelligence, to streamline workflows and improve quality of care. The ACEP Artificial Intelligence Committee should play a leading role in policy development. Artificial intelligence tools must be implemented with safeguards to ensure fairness, protect privacy, and maintain physician oversight. I will also advocate for reduced regulatory requirements that contribute to physician burnout.

Emergency physicians deserve autonomy in decisions affecting patient care and practice management, including staffing, billing, and supervision. ACEP should provide resources for emergency physicians pursuing due process, unionization, or independent practice formation. I will continue to support legislative efforts to secure due process rights nationwide.