• Michael J Drescher, Zev Wimpfheimer, Aziz Darawsha, Ryan Sullivan, Aviva Goral, and Limor Aharonson-Daniel.
• Department of Emergency Medicine, Hartford Hospital, University of Connecticut, Hartford, CT, USA. Michael.drescher@hhchealth.org.
• Int J Emerg Med. 2015 Dec 1; 8 (1): 47.

ObjectiveIn 2003, we published a study on the Israeli workforce in emergency medicine (EM). We repeated the study in 2012 to assess changes in the workforce that have occurred in the interval decade.MethodsThis is an observational cross-sectional study of the physician workforce in EM in Israel in 2012. An online survey was sent to the ED medical directors of all general hospitals in Israel querying the numbers of physicians working in the ED, as well as the specialty and level of training of those manning the ED at various times during the day. The workforce in 2012 was compared to that of 2003.ResultsTwenty-four of 28 (86 %) EDs responded. Certified EM specialists have increased from 59 to 164 since 2003. Disparities continue regarding their presence in the ED. Most EM specialists are scheduled during the day whereas they are virtually absent during the night. A total of 58 EM specialists were scheduled countrywide for the weekday day shift and only one overnight. The preponderance of EM specialists working during the day and the large number of supervised and unsupervised residents working at night has not changed substantially since 2003. Eleven departments reported having an EM specialist present during the evenings whereas in 2003, only two departments reported so.ConclusionSince 2003, there are more certified EM specialists and more specialist coverage in the ED into the evening hours. Most ED providers are still not emergency physicians, and there is still a preponderance of EM specialist coverage during the day and a lack thereof overnight.

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