Specialty Hospitalists Gain Traction

The role of the specialty hospitalist has been gaining momentum in recent years. Just last month, The Hospitalist reported the addition of the first otolaryngology hospitalist to the faculty of the University of California at San Francisco’s staff. And these “hyphenated hospitalists,” as Robert Wachter, MD calls them, are springing up around the country.  

Here’s a quick guide to some of the more common specialists that also wear a hospitalist hat:

Neurohospitalist: Many hospitals, particularly those with dedicated stroke centers, are adding neurohospitalists to their staff. Not only are they able to handle complex cases quickly, but hospitals don’t have to pay the pricey fees to bring in a neurologist on call.

Surgical Hospitalist (a.k.a. Surgicalist): These hospitalists started out as a solution to overcrowded emergency departments. They were brought in to provide timely surgical consults and get patients into surgery quickly, increasing throughput. But the concept stuck, and many hospitals are adding this position as a part of their staff.

OB Hospitalists (a.k.a. Laborists): More hospitals are moving toward using laborists. They’re able to oversee a labor until the mother’s regular OBGYN can make it to the hospital. And because they can more effectively manage tough labors and deliveries, they can reduce a hospital’s C-section rate.

Dermatological Hospitalists: These specialists are integrating themselves back into the inpatient setting after long being a predominately office-based specialty. They can be called upon for a number of cases spanning from adverse drug reactions to stem cell transplant complications.

As inpatient cases become more complex, hospitals around the country are likely to add more  “hyphenated hospitalists” in the near future.