Objective: In 2003, we published a study on the Israeli workforce in emergency medicine (EM). We repeated the\nstudy in 2012 to assess changes in the workforce that have occurred in the interval decade.\nMethods: This is an observational cross-sectional study of the physician workforce in EM in Israel in 2012. An online\nsurvey was sent to the ED medical directors of all general hospitals in Israel querying the numbers of physicians\nworking in the ED, as well as the specialty and level of training of those manning the ED at various times during\nthe day. The workforce in 2012 was compared to that of 2003.\nResults: Twenty-four of 28 (86 %) EDs responded. Certified EM specialists have increased from 59 to 164 since 2003.\nDisparities continue regarding their presence in the ED. Most EM specialists are scheduled during the day whereas\nthey are virtually absent during the night. A total of 58 EM specialists were scheduled countrywide for the weekday\nday shift and only one overnight. The preponderance of EM specialists working during the day and the large number of\nsupervised and unsupervised residents working at night has not changed substantially since 2003. Eleven departments\nreported having an EM specialist present during the evenings whereas in 2003, only two departments reported so.\nConclusion: Since 2003, there are more certified EM specialists and more specialist coverage in the ED into the evening\nhours. Most ED providers are still not emergency physicians, and there is still a preponderance of EM specialist coverage\nduring the day and a lack thereof overnight.
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