Rediscovering purpose in our well-being journey as emergency physicians: an international perspective
10.5847/wjem.j.1920-8642.2026.021
- Author:
Lai Heng Foong
1
Author Information
1. University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Bankstown Lidcombe Hospital, Chair, Public Health and Environmental Health, International Federation of Emergency Medicine
- Publication Type:Editorial
- From:
World Journal of Emergency Medicine
2026;17(1):3-6
- CountryChina
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Physician well-being is vital to delivering high-quality emergency care. A supported and healthy emergency medicine workforce leads to better patient outcomes, fewer medical errors, and greater job satisfaction and staff retention.[1,2] Emergency physicians (EPs) face unique pressures, including shift work, high patient volumes and acuities, overcrowding, and systemic inefficiencies that escalate their risk of burnout. As a result, EPs have reported the highest rates of burnout among physician specialties.[1,3] Over the past decade, multiple attempts have been made to promote EP well-being. However, early initiatives were oriented around individual “wellness”, such as exercise, diet, sleep, yoga, and finding “work-life balance”. Recently, there has been evolving recognition of the effects of a number of aspects of burnout that are outside the control of individual EPs, including administrative duties superseding clinical duties, diminishing resources and support, overcrowding and boarding, adverse working conditions, and medico-legal challenges. These factors progressively constrain the ability and capacity of EPs to do the work that they are trained and entrusted to do - rapidly and effectively evaluate, treat, and dispose of acutely ill patients. This sense of “moral injury” has contributed to growing dissatisfaction and premature departure from emergency medicine through reduced hours, transitions to other fields, early retirement, and, tragically, suicide.[4,5]
