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Hospitalist core competencies

Hospitalist Leadership Connection, July 28, 2009

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As the number of hospitalists has grown, so too has their role within the hospital systems. In addition to quality improvement, these contemporary hospitalist roles include:

• Patient safety: Contemporary hospitalists have become leaders in developing a culture of hospitalist safety and safe practices.
• Transitions of care: Contemporary hospitalist programs participate in the development of an effective means to manage transitions of care, particularly when a patient is discharged. Current data demonstrates that poor communication and transfer of information are common and pose significant risks for patients and families. Hospitalists’ involvement is paramount to addressing these issues, and other hospital-based professionals and administrators look to them for leadership.
• Education: Hospitalists often play a crucial role in educating fellow physicians and other healthcare professionals in both clinical and leadership matters.
• Leadership: Hospitalists are leaders in the areas of patient and hospital staff satisfaction, medication reconciliation, and medication safety. They also play a leadership role by promoting a multidisciplinary approach to patient care and by accepting medical staff leadership roles.

The above excerpt is adapted from The Hospitalist Program Management Guide, Second Edition, by Kenneth G. Simone, DO, and Jeffrey R. Dichter, MD, FACP, published by HCPro, Inc., in Marblehead, MA.

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