ACEP EM Practice Management & Health Policy Section Spotlight: Turning Big-Picture Policy Into Real-World Wins in Your ED

In this ACEP Early Career Physicians spotlight, Dr. Laurel Barr talks with Dr. Michael Dorritie (Chair-Elect) about why “practice management” and “health policy” are not side projects in emergency medicine. They are the levers that shape staffing, boarding, reimbursement, scope of practice, and workplace safety, and they often determine what your day-to-day work feels like on shift.

What the Section does

Focused on the overlap between clinical care and healthcare policy, the Section identifies the most pressing challenges facing emergency medicine groups and supports solutions improving the practice environment. It also gives ACEP members a clearer understanding of the College’s advocacy priorities and how to apply them in both policy and operational settings.

Why this matters for early-career physicians

Early in your career, it is easy to feel like these problems are “above your pay grade.” These issues are not removed from anyone’s practice. They directly influence staffing, scheduling, patient movement through the ED, and how safe the work environment feels. The section helps members share insights, identify trends, and solve common problems together.

What the Section prioritizes

The section’s advocacy work is aligned with ACEP’s legislative priorities and centered on the issues placing the greatest strain on emergency medicine physicians. Its focus includes major challenges such as ED boarding, scope of practice, reimbursement, and payer pressures, surprise billing, and workplace violence. Current emphasis is on advancing stronger workplace violence protections and ensuring physician coverage in the ED at all times

Creating member value

While health policy progress can be slow and frustrating, the section aims to make advocacy feel more practical and within reach. It does that by connecting members to resources, conversations, and support that turn broad policy goals into meaningful action. A recent example is its webinar on political advocacy in medicine, which highlights how NEMPAC works and why emergency medicine’s influence is critical in a competitive policy landscape.

Collaboration in action

This work extends beyond the section itself. Aligning with ACEP’s Leadership & Advocacy Conference helps strengthen emergency medicine’s collective voice while giving members a place to share concerns, compare strategies, and connect around common practice challenges.

Get involved

Getting involved is simple and doesn't require prior policy experience. Members can join via the section webpage, connect with section leadership through EngagED, and bring forward questions, ideas, or practice management challenges to explore with others facing similar issues.

Visit the EM Practice Management & Health Policy Section →