Hospitalist Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of a hospitalist. Feel free to use our hospitalist job description template to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as a hospitalist.
Who is a Hospitalist?
A hospitalist is a physician who focuses exclusively on the care of hospitalized patients. This practitioner receives the same medical education as other physicians. Internal medicine physicians make up the vast majority of these specialists, but family practice physicians, pediatric specialists, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants also fill this role. Whereas other specialists focus on a specific body system or disease, the hospitalist’s specialty is hospital medicine. Due to his familiarity with the hospital and his work there, he may be able to provide a higher level of care to the patient than the patient’s primary medical doctor can within the constraints of being on call and performing rounds during hours when he is not committed to his outside practice.
Typical responsibilities of a hospitalist include patient care and education, research, and leadership. Additionally, the hospitalist plays a critical role in communicating with the patient’s primary care physician (PCP) and other specialists and coordinating care. This saves the PCP time, money, and inconvenience associated with having to visit the hospital and be on call when his patients visit the emergency room or are admitted. The hospitalist works in the hospital and may see a single or a large number of patients during his shift. He might work for a hospital, a managed care organization, or a medical group. Additionally, he has the option of working for these organizations as a self-employed contractor.
As this is a relatively new medical specialty, there is limited data on salaries. According to available data, hospitalists typically earn the same or slightly more than other physicians with the same training. They also benefit from the fact that they are not required to maintain an inpatient or outpatient practice, with all of the associated costs and responsibilities.
Hospitalists are primarily concentrated in the United States, though a growing number of these specialists practice in Canada. The Society of Hospital Medicine (SHM) is a professional organization for hospital-based physicians in the United States.
There are numerous hospitalist positions available, as nearly every medical specialty is required in a hospital. Internal medicine specialists, pediatricians, orthopedic surgeons, and psychiatrists are just a few examples. Hospitalists may work in a variety of settings within a medical facility, ranging from emergency rooms to psychiatric wards.
The majority of hospitalist positions are in emergency departments, and the majority of those physicians are internists or general practitioners. Patients present with a wide variety of ailments, ranging from the common cold to broken bones. While an internist can treat the majority of illnesses, more complex cases may require a different type of physician. For example, severely broken bones generally require the care of an orthopedist, even more so when mending the break requires surgery.
Hospitalist positions are also available in other areas of the hospital for internists and other specialties. Internists may work on medical-surgical wards, treating patients suffering from pneumonia or other serious infections. Psychiatric wards frequently employ psychiatrists and psychologists to treat patients and assess their mental health status. Intensive care units, such as neonatal intensive care units for premature or ill infants, frequently have dedicated hospitalists on staff to care for and monitor patients.
Generally, hospitalists do not see patients outside of the hospital setting, and thus do not become acquainted with their patients or their histories. Hospitalists care for patients with acute, or short-term, conditions and refer them back to their primary care physicians for follow-up care. Hospitalists must provide as much information as possible about the acute condition so that the primary care physician can determine the best course of treatment.
For the foreseeable future, there is expected to be an increase in demand for hospitalist jobs, but there will also likely be increased competition for available positions. Many physicians are leaving private practice to work in hospitals because it allows them to keep a greater portion of their income. Earnings vary according to the volume of patients seen each week but are frequently higher than those earned in private practice.
While the majority of hospitalists work in paid positions within a large medical facility, some volunteer at free clinics and other charitable organizations. Others may work as part of research teams developing novel treatments and medical procedures. Hospitalist careers provide a diverse range of opportunities, and the work is typically varied each day due to the variety of patients and cases seen.
Hospitalist Job Description
Below are the hospitalist job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a hospitalist job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
The duties and responsibilities of a hospitalist include the following:
- Providing medical care to hospital patients on a general basis.
- Examining patients upon admission
- Coordinating hospitalized patients’ care
- Communicating with the primary care physician of a patient
- Placing diagnostic tests, laboratory work, and X-rays on order and interpreting the results.
- Responding to patient inquiries about treatments.
- Taking charge of patient care
- Developing post-operative care plans in collaboration with surgical teams
- Obtaining and analyzing medical examinations
- Providing pain management services
- Making contact with specialists
- Educating patients and their families about the importance of healthy living
- Leading initiatives to improve the quality of care in their workplace
- Keeping patient records current
Other critical tasks include the following:
- Create and Recommend Patient Treatment Plans
The primary responsibility of a hospitalist is to make treatment recommendations and develop comprehensive treatment plans for hospitalized patients. This includes collaborating with the patient’s primary physician to develop post-hospital recovery plans.
- Referring Patients to Specialists
If a patient’s condition necessitates specialist care, the hospitalist is responsible for making referrals and coordinating care. They coordinate care directly with the patient and their insurance provider.
- Take Charge of Patient Records
Hospitalists are responsible for the management of hospitalized patients’ records. This includes maintaining accurate data and charts in the hospital’s record-keeping software, tracking new treatments, and monitoring patient progress.
- Respond to Patient Inquiries and Concerns
A significant portion of being a hospitalist is communicating directly with patients to address their concerns and answer their questions. Hospitalists must listen actively to read between the lines and address unspoken concerns or questions.
Many hospitalists serve as leaders for other hospital staff members, including nurses, anesthesiologists, and surgeons. Hospitalists frequently manage conflict and conduct performance reviews as part of this responsibility.
Qualifications
- A doctoral, medical, or professional degree in medicine from an accredited medical school is required.
- State-issued M.D. or D.O. license.
- BCLS or ACLS certification is required if stress tests are performed or as specified by specialty.
- Must have state and federal narcotics licenses
- 5 years of experience as a physician or hospitalist.
- Hospital medicine experience.
Hospitalists require extensive education and training. It is critical to complete years of general and specialized education at a medical school before pursuing this role. The following education is required of a hospitalist:
While medical schools have their own set of requirements, they all prefer undergraduate courses in anatomy, calculus, biology, and physics. Additionally, you are expected to take the Medical College Admission Test during this time to qualify for medical school.
Medical degree
It is critical to have an accredited medical degree as a hospitalist. Medical school is a four-year program that includes clinical rotations supervised by licensed physicians.
To become a hospitalist, you must pass a national, standardized exam. Bear in mind that state licensing requirements vary.
Residency programs
Following medical school, you select a specialty and complete a residency program in addition to clinical training experiences. As a prospective hospitalist, you can select from a variety of residency programs, including those in a family or internal medicine.
To renew your license, you must complete additional medical education. Bear in mind that state-by-state requirements for license renewal may vary.
Typically, nine or more years of education and training are required for a hospitalist position. If you pursue a fellowship, your stay will be extended to ten years.
Essential Skills
- Communication skills
Hospitalists consult with other specialists, educate patients, and develop patient care plans using their written and verbal communication skills. Additionally, these professionals may use their communication skills when interacting with external facilities and businesses, such as when transferring a patient from a hospital to a nursing home.
- Organizational skills
Because these professionals frequently work with multiple patients concurrently, they must possess strong organizational skills to maintain accurate records. Additionally, organizational skills can assist them in managing their daily responsibilities by maintaining a detailed schedule.
- Leadership Skills
Hospitalists may use their leadership abilities to take over a patient’s care and initiate new initiatives. Additionally, they may coordinate efforts to transfer or discharge patients.
- Observation skills
As with other medical professionals, observation skills assist hospitalists in recognizing and diagnosing patients’ symptoms. Additionally, they require these abilities to maintain an awareness of their surroundings to avoid contamination or other forms of danger.
- Compassion
Working with sick patients frequently necessitates a high level of compassion, as these professionals must be sensitive to the emotional state of the patient. Additionally, this ability enables hospitalists to develop more personalized patient care plans.
- Problem-solving skills
These professionals use problem-solving abilities to analyze patient symptoms and test results to develop a personalized and effective care plan. Additionally, they may require problem-solving abilities to assist patients in making discharge, health care, and facility transfer decisions.
- Stamina
These medical professionals must possess physical stamina because they may be required to assist patients with mobile tasks and spend a significant portion of their shift standing and walking. Since these professionals frequently work longer shifts than average, this ability also aids in keeping hospitalists energized.
- Collaboration
Because hospitalists frequently collaborate with other medical professionals to develop patient treatment plans, these professionals must possess strong collaborative skills.
How to Become a Hospitalist
- Pursue a bachelor’s degree
Obtaining an undergraduate degree is the first step toward becoming a hospitalist. A bachelor’s degree is required for admission to medical school, though professionals may major in any subject.
Consider one of the following majors to best prepare you for medical school:
- Biology
- Pre-medicine
- Biochemistry\sNursing
- Health care in general
- Language other than English
If you are still in high school, you may wish to take additional math and science courses to prepare for the coursework you will encounter as an undergraduate. Some high schools may even offer dual-credit courses that allow you to fulfill both high school and college requirements for general education. Consider inquiring about these opportunities with your school’s guidance counselor.
- Obtain admission to a medical school
A medical degree is required of hospitalists. Professionals interested in applying to medical school should plan to take the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) during their junior or senior year of undergraduate study. Additionally, gaining medically related community service or work experience, such as working as a caregiver, can be beneficial.
Medical school is typically completed in four years by professionals. Biology, anatomy, health science, medical ethics, physiology, human behavior, and health law are frequently included in the curriculum. Professionals can concentrate on clinical skills and explore different specialties during the final two years of medical school.
- Complete a residency
Residentships are three- to eight-year educational opportunities for health care professionals. Graduates of medical schools begin their residencies shortly after graduation and specialize in a particular field of medicine. Residencies assist medical professionals in developing the clinical skills necessary to deliver high-quality patient care. Hospitalists can pursue residency training in any field, but the most common are pediatrics, family practice, or internal medicine. These professionals must pass an additional series of exams after their residency.
- Consider applying for a fellowship.
Although it is not required, some hospitalists choose to pursue a fellowship following their residency. Fellowships enable professionals to specialize. For instance, a hospitalist may choose to pursue a fellowship in geriatrics to increase his or her knowledge of the subject, as hospitalists frequently manage senior health issues. Fellowships are typically two years in duration and include both clinical and research components.
Pursuing a fellowship can assist you in furthering your education and establishing yourself as a scholar in your field. This is because fellows frequently carry out significant research projects in addition to performing physician-level duties.
- Obtain a state license
Hospitalists are required to obtain a state license to work legally. Because the requirements for obtaining this license vary by state, it is prudent to research your state’s medical board. Generally, licensing requirements are available on their website, but you can also contact state medical board members for additional information.
- Identify opportunities for career advancement
After obtaining your state license, you can begin applying for hospitalist positions. Make contact with local hospitals, nursing homes, and rehabilitation centers to inquire about available positions. If you’re looking to advance your career, you may want to consider earning additional certifications. Though there is no specific certification for hospitalists, consider obtaining one in a closely related field, such as internal medicine.
Where to Work as a Hospitalist
These professionals are employed by hospitals or multidisciplinary medical groups. Certain hospitalists may also work in advanced medical settings, such as rehabilitation centers and nursing homes. Due to their focus on patient care, these professionals can anticipate interacting with sick patients and their families. Frequently, they work with patients who are suffering from serious conditions and illnesses.
Hospitalist Salary Scale
In the United States, a hospitalist earns an average annual salary of $263,760 per year.
