Counting Hospitalists—Does it Matter?

[摘要] Who is a hospitalist exactly? The study by Freed et al1 in this issue looks at the long-term plans of those who are taking a hospitalist position as their first job. The authors’ rationale for this assessment is that it is “important to workforce projections regarding the magnitude of those who will function in this role.” This claim may be true, but the study itself might incompletely inform workforce projections because residents often choose a position out of residency that may not reflect their long-term career plans. This scenario is certainly true for many who take a hospitalist position, as shown by this study as well as by previous studies. Acknowledging this reality is to recognize that there are at least 2 classes of pediatricians performing hospitalist work: those biding their time and those starting a career. For residents just completing their training, it can be hard to distinguish between those 2 classes, especially when there is no clear description of what defines a hospitalist. Many residents also take temporary positions in NICUs, emergency departments, and urgent care centers, some with the intention of earning money before a fellowship in those fields while others are just waiting …

[学科分类] 儿科学

[关键词] Campylobacter;proljev;dob