Hospitalists programs are still a relatively new idea in the medical arena. Although first started in the mid-90s and quickly growing in popularity, many people still wonder if this specialty is an asset to existing hospital staff. Here are a few reasons why you should consider starting a hospitalist program:

• Hospitalists increase access to doctors for other staff. Hospitalist programs put a doctor on staff in the hospital 24/7. This is a big positive for other hospital staff as it eases access to doctors. Nurses no longer have to call and wait hours to hear back about a patient who needs an increase or change in medicine. Specialists in other areas can easily reach the attending doctor for questions or concerns. This ease of communication and shortened timeframe makes the job easier for your existing staff and directly impacts patient care.

• Hospitalists are tied to shorter lengths of stay and lower readmission rates. Studies have shown that in facilities with a hospitalist program, patients are released earlier and less frequently readmitted. A study published by JAMA attributes this to the fact that hospitalists become more involved with admitted patients earlier in their hospital stay and attend to them more regularly. This level of care can only benefit the patient.

• Hospitalists ease the workload for Primary Care Physicians. More and more primary care physicians are preferring outpatient only care. This doesn’t mean that they don’t still care about and want to be involved with their patients who are hospitalized, but running across town to write a prescription or check-in on patients is time consuming and often decreases the amount of time that can be spent with each patient. That’s where hospitalists come in. They provide care while the patient is hospitalized, taking that off the shoulders of the primary care physician, while also communicating openly to make the best decisions possible for the patient. This eliminates the need for rushing across town to make hospital visits, while still allowing for the best possible care for the patient.

• Patients' perception of care is higher when seen by a hospitalist. By being at the hospital 24/7, hospitalists are able to spend more time with patients and check-in more often. This obviously has a direct impact on patient satisfaction and their perception of care. When physicians are able to focus on one area, rather than dashing back and forth between the hospital and their practice, they are able to spend more time with each patient. Hospitalists are also experts in the hospital environment. This gives them added experience in what patients are feeling and experiencing during an inpatient stay.

• Hospitalists focus on integrated care of the whole patient. Rather than simply seeing a specialist for the ailment that they are admitted for, such as a broken hip or irregular heartbeat, patients who see a hospitalist will first be examined as whole. Hospitalists are trained to explore underlying conditions and whole body ailments that could be the cause for why a patient is experiencing specific problem. This ensures that a patient is referred to proper specialist and receives treatment that doesn’t just fix today’s issue, but addresses any underlying conditions to prevent a recurrence and hopefully limit the need for future hospital admissions.