Hospitalists: Evolution, evidence, and eventualities

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Internal Medicine
• Medical Practice Models

Background:

• The hospitalist model, a recent development in healthcare, involves physicians specializing in inpatient care.
• This model is rapidly expanding, with a significant projected increase in the number of practicing hospitalists.
• Hospitalists manage inpatients, accepting patient hand-offs from primary care providers and returning them at discharge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the emerging literature on the impact of hospitalists.
• To trace the evolution and nature of the hospitalist movement.
• To evaluate the empirical evidence regarding hospitalists' effects on costs, clinical outcomes, patient satisfaction, and education.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of the positivist literature on hospitalists.
• Analysis of empirical evidence concerning hospitalist practice.
• Appraisal of the novelty of the hospitalist model.

Main Results:

• Evidence suggests positive impacts of hospitalists on healthcare costs.
• Clinical outcomes and medical education show non-negative effects.
• Evidence regarding patient satisfaction and continuity of care remains inconclusive.
• The hospitalist model's novelty is appraised within the existing literature.

Conclusions:

• The hospitalist model demonstrates benefits in cost and clinical outcomes.
• Further longitudinal research is essential to assess long-term viability and impact.
• Key areas for future research include the mechanisms of benefit, effects on continuity of care, and the doctor-patient relationship.