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Emergency departments (ED) face an ever-increasing glut of patients-forcing many hospitals to increase staff. But despite the growing demand for ED docs, salary increases are paltry, and coupled with the increasing malpractice insurance rates, some physicians are considering leaving medicine, a recent physician recruiting and consulting firm study suggests. Base compensation holds steady for ED docs, according to the 20th Annual 2005 National Emergency Physician Salary and Compensation Survey compiled by Daniel Stern and Associates in partnership with PhysicianWork.com.