You may not know if you want to become a Doctor of Medicine (MD), but you might still be looking for your dream job. There are many specialties in the healthcare industry. You want to find one that is both relevant to your skills and offers you the work-life balance and flexibility you desire.
A hospitalist is one option that may seem to fit all those criteria. What exactly is a hospitalist doctor? What does a hospitalist physician do every day?
Continue reading to learn more about this fascinating and relatively new area of medicine. See if a career as a hospitalist is right for you.
What does it mean to be a hospitalist?
These doctors are licensed to practice in hospitals where they can treat various medical conditions. Hospitalists care for patients who are hospitalized due to various illnesses or injuries. This diversity allows them to be a diverse workforce.
A hospitalist is a relatively new term, being first used in 1996. These specialty practitioners were needed due to the increasing complexity of hospital patient cases. Hospitalists could be a dedicated team of physicians for patients who need them.
This gap in the medical workforce was quickly filled, and the hospitalist model was born. It has proven to be a valuable method of improving patient outcomes and efficiency. Hospitalists can even reduce patient stays, according to studies. Since then, these practitioners have been a key part of the hospital’s direct patient care team.
What is a hospitalist?
Hospitalists are skilled in many different conditions. They provide general medical care for hospitalized patients. They coordinate the care of inpatients and lead the medical team. They might examine patients as soon as they are admitted.
A hospitalist might order respiratory therapy for a patient suffering from pneumonia. They might also prescribe antibiotics to a patient suffering from a kidney infection. Patients admitted to the hospital often have complex cases and may present with multiple conditions. By utilizing their vast medical knowledge, hospitalists can play a vital role.
Hospitalists are not specialists who only deal with one organ or patient group. They must have a broad knowledge base. These physicians may refer patients to other specialists when necessary, but their diagnostic skills can help set the tone for hospital patient care.
Hospitalists can also pursue other pursuits besides clinical care. Some take on additional leadership roles, while others get involved with research initiatives. Others choose to teach.
What is the difference between an internist and a hospitalist?
Internists and hospitalists are often confused. Hospital medicine is part of the larger field of internal medicine. The vast majority of hospitalists are internists. Although the training and education internists receive are similar to those of hospitalists, they have different roles.
Internists can practice in either hospital or outpatient settings, while hospitalists only work in hospitals. Internists can work with patients for as long as they live, leading to long-lasting relationships.
Hospitalists, on the other side, however, only see patients for the duration of their hospital stay. Hospitalists may be more frequent with patients with chronic conditions requiring multiple visits. The hospitalist’s primary role is to manage the patient, not the condition that causes them to be hospitalized.
Why pursue a hospitalist career?
Hospital medicine might be the right choice for you if you are determined to pursue a physician career but have interests beyond one specialty. Hospitalists are a great choice for aspiring doctors looking for a varied, challenging and engaging career.
Hospitalists are available 24 hours a day so that you can work night or weekend shifts. This sector may not be for those looking for more predictable hours.
Hospital medicine may be the right choice for you if you are interested in a medical speciality that can treat various conditions and cases in your daily work.
Hospitalists have the chance to treat patients with all kinds of conditions, from common illnesses to uncommon cases that you might not see in another area of medicine. Hospitalists love the variety of work they do and the challenge it brings.