Resource contribution by Canadian faculties of medicine to the discipline of emergency medicine.
OBJECTIVE
Undergraduate and postgraduate emergency medicine (EM) education has developed rapidly over the last 20 years. Our objective was to establish a national educational inventory, cataloguing the human and financial resources provided to EM programs by Canadian faculties of medicine.


METHODS
A 17-question survey was distributed to all 27 Canadian EM program directors, representing 11 Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) programs and 16 College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC-EM) programs. The questionnaire addressed teaching responsibilities, teaching support and academic support in each program.


RESULTS
All 27 program directors returned valid questionnaires. Annually, an estimated 3,049 students and residents participate in EM learning. This includes 1,369 undergraduates (45%), 1,621 postgraduates (53%) and 59 others (2%). Of the postgraduates, 173 are EM residents -- 92 (53%) in RCPSC programs and 81 (47%) in CFPC-EM programs. Overall, 587 EM faculty teach residents and students, but only 36 (6%) of these hold academic geographical full time positions. At the university level, all 16 CFPC-EM programs are administered by departments of family medicine. Of 11 RCPSC programs, 1 has full departmental status, 2 are free-standing divisions, 3 are administered through family medicine, 3 through medicine, 1 through surgery and 1 by other arrangements. Currently 8 programs (30%) have associate faculty, 14 (52%) have designated research directors and 10 (37%) describe other human resources. Sixteen (59%) programs receive direct financial and administrative support and 17 (63%) receive financial support for resident initiatives. Only 8 program directors (30%) perceive that they are receiving adequate support.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite major teaching and clinical responsibilities within the faculties of medicine, Canadian EM programs are poorly supported. Further investment of human and financial and human resources is required.
Steiner
I P
IP
Department of Family Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Yoon
P W
PW
Goldsand
G
G
Rowe
B H
BH