ED docs may unionize--here are pros and cons.
The American Medical Association has proposed forming a unionlike organization for employed physicians. Research shows most ED contracts state that physicians can be terminated with or without cause, which could prevent physicians from speaking up about patient care issues. ED experts say ED physicians often are not given access to financial information to determine if bills are appropriately coded, which increases liability risks. Some ED experts argue that the public perception of unions and striking could hurt emergency physicians' status as a profession.
D000573:American Hospital Association; D003284:Contract Services; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000592:standards; D004651:Employment; D007750:Labor Unions; D010820:Physicians / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D014481:United States; D000078329:Workforce