The idea of several healthcare systems to introduce emergency physicians (EPs) results from
changes in patient demand and medical labor supply which demand reflection on job structure and
skill mix as well as modifications in the workflow and coordination instruments. EPs were
designed to meet these needs. But are they indeed able to meet the expectations? First this
study investigates the development of EPs as a profession and their professional role.
Therefore a comparison is conducted between the Netherlands where EPs are newly emerging and
the UK where EPs have been employed for several decades. Furthermore the situation of
hospitals within the Netherlands is compared. The second objective of the study is to determine
for which organizational configurations and to what extent EPs enable a better fit between
contextual characteristics and organizational structure in emergency care units ideally
leading to improved performance.
