March 20, 2023
Providers | Tea Leaves
  • The Washington Post and Axios say Match Day trends show more medical student graduates are shunning the ER and instead choosing specialties like orthopedics and plastic surgery. More than 550 slots for emergency medicine residents were left unfilled this year, according to the National Resident Matching Program, which pairs newly minted doctors with post-graduate opportunities in medical centers. That’s up from 335 a year ago and a major jump from 2018, when only 13 ER openings were unfilled. The field not long ago was one of the most desired for young doctors: ER residency slots rose by 44.6 percent between 2000 and 2010, more than any other specialty. (Articles here, here, and here)
  • A new report from Press Ganey shows that clinical and nonclinical health care workers have an upward-trending perception of safety culture, but physicians and leaders do not agree. Press Ganey found in its annual safety culture trends report that senior management perceptions of all safety culture metrics are lower. Overall safety scores are down 4 percent, prevention and reporting decreased 2 percent, pride and reputation declined 5 percent, and resources and teamwork are down 4 percent. The report outlines the key trends shaping safety culture in 2023 and recommends a number of high-impact actions for senior health care leaders to create and sustain safety culture across their organizations. (Article here; report here)