ACEP Membership Challenges

The “Young Physician”

Gary C Starr MDACEP SA 2009 Chapter Executive Forum

Boston, MA

The “Young Physician”

EMRA - 8000 members, 25-30% ACEP

YPS - Op. Guide says “1st 10 years”

ACEP 2006 Survey “1st 6 years”

ACEP member data: 25yo-35yo?

Member Data

Most join in Residency

83% of those who leave do so in 1st 2 yrs (2006 Member survey)

40% of young members feel state chapter not useful. (internal ACEP survey data 25-35yo)

State Member Data(2005 YPS Chapter Survey)

86% do not have YPs serving on chapter special interest groups

YPs involved in chapter advocacy efforts - 52% do not, 48% do

Most chapters (86%) do not have a strategic plan to address YP membership

Over half (55%) do not know the number of YPs in their chapter

Changing Demographics

More Residency Grads

+Increasing Total EM Physicians (and ACEP members)

Greater relative number of YP

Shift towards younger

Problem Defined:

1. Get Young Physicians to become members.

2. Provide enough value to Young Physician to retain membership.

National Role Models

ACEP Young Physician Section (YPS)‣ 1st 10 years of practice

‣ many EM Residents

EMRA‣ Emergency Medicine Residents

‣ Medical Students to a lesser degree

YPS

Official Operational Guidelines✓ 3.3 “... to meet, interact and network.”

✓ 3.4 Present Educational Programs...

✓ 3.5 ...”prepare and present informative [material]”

✓ 3.9 “provide a pathway for leadership development within the organtization.”

EMRA

2008 Strategic Plan Updates (partial)✓ Develop Legislative Advocates

‣ Web Presence, L&A Conference, 911 Network,

✓ Empower Local Representatives

‣ Improve communication with State Chapters...

✓ Engage Members Locally

‣ BOD State Chapter Visits, “Chairs Challenge” expanded to States

✓ Revolutionize IT infrastructure

Ideas That Work

o ACEP Leadership and Advocacy Conference

o State Chapter Sponsored Educational Programs

- Oral Board Practice, Research symposiums

o Leadership Positions for YP

o ACEP Counselor, State ACEP BoD Position, Committee Positions, Sponsor attendance at L&A or Health Policy Mini Fellowship

o Easily available, relevant, up-to-date, information resource:

- Website resources, 911 Network, Targeted emails, Publications

What do “YP” want?

2008 ACEP Section Member Survey- Networking

- Sharing Information

- Leadership Development

2005 YPS Survey- Increase Networking Opportunities, “Community Building”

- Increase Leadership Role availability

- Promote and facilitate what National ACEP already does well

What do “YP” want?

What to avoid...

Poor Communication

Little or no personal outreach

Any “Program” that is NOT:

Relevant

Excellent

Convenient

Recreating ACEP Resource available elsewhere

“Mentorship” program?

“...general consensus among section members was that mentorship programs have not worked in the past...” (2004 ACEP YPS Section survey)

What’s a State to do?

Best Practice

FCEP

EMRAF, Advocacy, Website, Information Dissemination

ICEP

Website, Information Dissemination, Research Support, Courses/CME, Leadership Opportunities

MCEP

EMRAM, Leadership Development Program, Website, CME/Courses, Advocacy, Sponsorships

OHCEP

EMRO, Leadership Opportunities, Advocacy, CME/Courses

PAACEP

Website, YP Committee, Courses/CME, Many Leadership Opportunities, Sponsorships

Final Thoughts

Develop relationships with your YP population (=true networking)

Get them to meetings, Involve them in Advocacy, Collaborate with Existing Groups (ACEP, EMRA, Residencies etc)

Find a way to provide more Leadership Opportunity

Make your website useful, easy and fill it with current info on:

Advocacy, Calenders, State Specific Information, Opportunities, Links

Don’t wait for YP to come to you...