Advocacy

Abstract

Advocacy work can be a thankless but highly rewarding aspect of your emergency medical career. Those involved gain an insider perspective on the decisions and battles that go into making the practice of Emergency Medicine what it is on the departmental, local, regional, and national levels. On the most local level, you can work internally within their department or hospital to protect emergency physician autonomy, advocate for patients, and improve the local emergency care environment. On the regional and state levels, you can affect laws, policies, and regulations that govern the practice of Emergency Medicine on a daily basis. Finally, on the national level, you can help fight for laws, regulations, and practice standards that define the practice of Emergency Medicine globally and stake out its place within the house of medicine. More than anything though, advocacy work helps physicians connect with the needs of their communities, patients, and colleagues. Within the advocacy realm, you can find a “family” within Emergency Medicine, bonded by common goals, desires, and effort. Finally, advocacy work can diversify your career, staving off burnout by giving you a sense of purpose and connection within your department and the greater medical community.