So, you are admitted to the hospital and your primary care physician (PCP) does not participate in your day-to-day care. Who is in charge of coordinating your care? The answer is simple: a hospitalist.

The term, hospitalist, was first used by the New England Journal of Medicine in 1996 when there were a few hundred physicians practicing in this category. There are currently thousands of hospitalists in this rapidly growing specialty.

The Need for This Role

As physicians work to increase their patient base, it is difficult to efficiently and effectively manage both the outpatient and inpatient portions of a medical practice. Hence, hospitalists came into play to cover the inpatient side.

In 2003, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), which is the board that oversees medical residency programs, made significant changes in the hours residents are allowed to work. This dramatically impacted the inpatient unit coverage by medical staff and hands-on patient management.

Hospitalist Defined

This physician is a specialist in inpatient medicine who cares for hospitalized patients. They practice clinical management in all areas of a hospitalized patient’s healthcare.

Most hospitalists are board certified in internal medicine but can have a base in other medical specialties. Some physicians choose to take on this role right out of medical school while others choose to pursue it after having been in private practice for a number of years.

Hospitalist Duties

• This board certified physician is charged with the responsibility of providing full medical care and follow-up for hospitalized patients. A hospitalist acts as the primary care doctor while a patient is hospitalized.
• This physician is available to the patient 24/7 to deliver clinical care.
• A hospitalist is responsible for the coordination of all aspects of clinical care: admission, diagnosis, treatment, evaluation, procedures, teaching and discharge.
• Communication with the PCP is an important responsibility that befalls the hospitalist.

Advantages of a Hospitalist

• These specialists are readily accessible to the patient and family members at any time of the day or night.
• Without dealing with office hour restrictions, hospitalists can deliver prompt results from diagnostic testing.

Disadvantages of a Hospitalist

• There is a potential lack of continuity of care since this MD has not previously been involved in patient’s medical care.
• The hospitalist is not as aware of the details of the patient’s medical history as the PCP.
• Patients experience a decreased personalized relationship with primary care physician.

Next time you or a family member is admitted to the hospital, it will probably be a well-qualified hospitalist who manages your healthcare. You will be in good hands.