Make way for the hospitalists
In the world of medicine, there’s a new kid on the block who’s making a difference in hospitals and patient care. Hospitalists, who are physicians who specialize in the practice of hospital medicine, are gaining popularity. From a two-year-old’s ear infection to the cancer pain of a 90-year-old, a hospitalist is ready and trained for these illnesses and everything in between.
The term “hospitalist” was first coined in 1996 by co-authors, Robert Wachter and Lee Goldman in a New England Journal of Medicine article. This medical specialty has grown since that time to include scores of men and women, many of whom are board-certified in internal medicine, general pediatrics or family practice. They undergo the same training as other doctors, including medical school, residency training and board certification examination. The only difference is that they have chosen to practice in a hospital as opposed to a private setting.
