Ask the Expert:

Is ED call a solvable problem?

The ED call problem, at least at present, is not a solvable problem. Instead of finding one right answer, it is about understanding, honoring, and finding a way to support the needs of physicians, the hospital, and the community all at the same time. A dilemma like this one requires "yes/and" thinking. In fact, applying problem-solving tactics to managing dilemma fulfills H.L. Menken's observation and eventually makes the problem worse. Given the way healthcare is organized and financed, this issue requires balancing the needs of every party involved while at the same time the provision of healthcare continues to change around us, forcing us to manage it differently the next day and the next.

Learn more about ED coverages and challenges from Emergency Department On-Call Strategies: From team management to compesantion plans, by Kimberly Mobley, Richard Sheff, MD and Bradley Zlotnick, MD, FACEP; published by HCPro, Inc.