Moral Injury Tied to Emergency Physician Attrition

Interviews with 46 emergency physicians pointed to resource constraints, moral injury, and rigid career structures as contributors to attrition.

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Emergency physician attrition exceeds 5% annually, peaking at 9% in 2020, significantly higher than other specialties.
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The study identified moral injury as a key factor in physician attrition, stemming from conflicts between professional duty and resource constraints.
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Participants reported inadequate staffing and institutional pressures prioritizing efficiency over patient safety as major sources of distress.
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Women emergency physicians face unique challenges, including caregiving conflicts and gender inequities, leading to earlier exits from the field.
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Potential retention strategies include improved staffing, flexible scheduling, mental health support, and increased representation of women in leadership.

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