Pediatric hospitalists: Training, current practice, and career goals

✍ Scribed by Gary L. Freed; Kelly M. Dunham

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2009
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 103 KB
• Volume: 4
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1553-5592
• DOI: 10.1002/jhm.458

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To determine the range and frequency of experiences, clinical and nonclinical roles, training, work expectations, and career plans of practicing pediatric hospitalists.

DESIGN:

Mail survey study of a national sample of 530 pediatric hospitalists of whom 67% (N = 338) were from teaching hospitals, 71% (N = 374) were from children's hospitals, 43% (N = 230) were from freestanding children's hospitals, and 69% (N = 354) were from hospitals with ≥250 beds.

RESULTS:

The response rate was 84%. The majority (54%; N = 211) had been practicing as hospitalists for at least 3 years. Most reported that the pediatric inpatient unit (94%) and inpatient consultation service (51%) were a part of their regular clinical assignment. Most did not provide service in the normal newborn nursery (58%), subspecialty inpatient service (52%), transports (85%), outpatient clinics (66%), or as part of an emergency response team (53%). Many participated in quality improvement (QI) initiatives (84%) and practice guideline development (81%).

CONCLUSIONS:

This study provides the most comprehensive information available regarding the clinical and nonclinical roles, training, work expectations, and career plans of pediatric hospitalists. However, the field is currently a moving target; there is significant flux in the hospitalist workforce and variation in the roles of these professionals in their clinical and nonclinical work environment. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2009;4:179–186. © 2009 Society of Hospital Medicine.