Educational hospitalization of family practice residents: how we do it, what it costs

Admission of first-year residents to a hospital enables them to experience the process from the patient's point of view and fosters physician empathy for the frustrations, loneliness, and uncertainty that patients go through when hospitalized. However, experiential learning programs of this type are complex and resource intensive. This article outlines the nature of resident and faculty participation in this educational exercise and documents the roles played by hospital departments (admitting, nursing, billing, medical records, employee health, and public relations) in enabling us to carry out an anonymous, and thus realistic, hospital admission experience. We also stress the pivotal role of strong administrative support for this type of program, especially when occasional glitches arise. Finally, we document the cost, which averages $1,137 per resident for their overnight stay, as reflected in actual hospital bills.