5 Key Takeaways

• 1

  Emergency physician attrition exceeds 5% annually, peaking at 9% in 2020, significantly higher than other specialties.

• 2

  The study identified moral injury as a key factor in physician attrition, stemming from conflicts between professional duty and resource constraints.

• 3

  Participants reported inadequate staffing and institutional pressures prioritizing efficiency over patient safety as major sources of distress.

• 4

  Women emergency physicians face unique challenges, including caregiving conflicts and gender inequities, leading to earlier exits from the field.

• 5

  Potential retention strategies include improved staffing, flexible scheduling, mental health support, and increased representation of women in leadership.