Background: Half of US hospitalists have contracts with pay-for-performance incentives based on quality outcomes such as length of stay (LOS) and readmission according to the 2023 State of Hospital Medicine Report. Traditionally, these measures have been linked to the discharging provider. However, as the length of a patient’s stay increases, the influence of the discharging [...]

Background: Interest in hospital medicine is rapidly growing, with a more than 50% growth rate of hospitalists between 2012 and 2019. Despite this large increase in practicing hospitalists, few formal residency resources exist to help internal medicine residents navigate the job application process and support their early hospitalist careers. While most residents will successfully seek [...]

Background: Fewer than one in three patients can correctly name a physician on their inpatient care team. Despite the fact, factors associated with correctly naming a physician have not been adequately explored. This study evaluates whether physician behaviors and patient characteristics are associated with a patient’s ability to correctly name their hospitalist physician. Methods: We [...]

Background: Effective interpersonal communication is critical in healthcare. Historically, pagers, phone calls, and in-person conversations have been the main form of in-hospital communication. New communication technologies, such as electronic messaging, are increasingly becoming the primary way for healthcare workers to communicate. In 2017, 27% of Society of Hospital Medicine responding organizations reported some use of [...]

Background: With the widespread implementation of rapid response system aimed at improving patient outcomes, providers are expected to perform the early detection, manage clinically deteriorating patients, and communicate effectively with rapid response teams (RRTs). Prior literature has reported that users of RRT described uncomfortable interactions, reduced clinical autonomy, role ambiguity, and a desire for improved [...]

Background: Pediatric hospitalists are responsible for educating various levels of learners when overseeing rounds to provide high quality care to patients and families. While many effective teaching techniques are described in the literature, efficient teaching on rounds is a skill not always taught during training. The effective use of these techniques by pediatric hospitalists is [...]

Background: The 2016 and 2023 AABB international red blood cell (RBC) transfusion guidelines recommend, in addition to restrictive transfusion practices, that clinicians also consider the patient’s overall clinical context when making transfusion decisions (1). However, there is little empiric data on which specific clinical factors, other than Hb, should inform transfusion decisions in hospitalized patients [...]

Background: Many evidences suggesting that hiring more hospitalists could result in cost savings, higher quality of care, and superior treatment outcomes[1-3]. Despite the benefits of introducing hospitalists in the hospitals, solely focusing on their productivity can potentially bring burnout and stress, even psychiatric symptoms, to them[4-8]. Recognizing and addressing the burnout and psychiatric symptoms of [...]

Background: Elderly patients have a higher risk of developing aspiration pneumonia and have a higher risk of death if hospitalized for aspiration pneumonia. This study was conducted to confirm the effectiveness of an aspiration prevention program using the Gugging Swallowing Screen (GUSS) for elderly patients hospitalized with acute medical illness. Methods: Starting in April 2021, [...]

Background: Pediatric hospitalists are responsible for providing high quality care in the hospital setting while teaching learners and maintaining a professional learning environment. This skill is rarely taught during medical training. Peer observation is a collaborative tool with potential for mutual benefit; offering the observer an opportunity to learn new strategies and the individual observed [...]