Perspectives of Hospitalists in an Academic Health System

Article Information

Clarke TR*, Josh Laban, Ahmed Luqman

Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine, Division of Hospital Medicine and UHealth International, Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, USA

*Corresponding Author: Tanya Roxanne Clarke MD, Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine, Division of Hospital Medicine and UHealth International, Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, USA

Received: 30 October 2022; Accepted: 04 November 2022; Published: 14 November 2022

Citation:

Clarke TR, Josh Laban, Ahmed Luqman. Perspectives of Hospitalists in an Academic Health System. Archives of Internal Medicine Research 5 (2022): 494-503.

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Abstract

Objectives: The primary outcome of this study is to assess the perspectives of Hospitalists on their workload and their perceived effects on patient care. The secondary outcomes are to evaluate the satisfaction of the Hospitalists with their compensation, quality of life, scholarship activity and promotion in their department and the support received to achieve this

Methodology: We developed a 49-question questionnaire. The questionnaire was based on (a) Oldenburg Burnout Inventory and (b) topics specific to census, compensation, academic support with desire for promotion, and the effects of workload on patient care and teaching. All questions were formatted with a 4-point Likert-type response scale. The questionnaires were distributed electronically using an online survey platform to all 32 of the Hospitalists at our institution.

Conclusion: Each institution needs to do a self-assessment based on clinician feedback: Hospitalists workload, burn-out and satisfaction to reduce the high turnover rates and brevity of this role. From this study in this academic institution, the perspectives of Hospitalists revealed a high level of burn out (exhaustion and disengagement) and high assigned patient censuses that negatively impact their ability to deliver optimal patient care. Most Hospitalists reported lack of mentorship and inadequate time allocated for scholarly activity. The majority reported not having their input on decisions made by the administration that directly affect them. Most were unsatisfied with their compensation and the lack of PTO (paid time off). The majority would like to be promoted in this academic institution but feel unsupported to achieve this goal.

Research Article articles

Article Details

Introduction

Objectives

The primary outcome of this study is to assess the perspectives of Hospitalists on their workload and their perceived effects on patient care. The secondary outcomes are to evaluate the satisfaction of the Hospitalists with their compensation, quality of life, scholarship activity and promotion in their department and the support received to achieve this.

Study Background

The Hospitalist model for inpatient care has significantly impacted inpatient medicine and is especially evident in academic medical centers.

Studies have shown that Hospitalists decrease the overall cost and length of stay for patients and readmission rates. Additionally, studies suggest superior teaching evaluations among Hospitalists, citing accessibility and provision of immediate feedback as strengths. [1]

The concept of the Hospitalist remains novel, with no standardized guidelines with regards to compensation or workload (number of encounters per day, complexity of patients and work hours, and the effect these factors may have on the quality of care of patients).

One study reported that the high workload of the Hospitalist contributes to incomplete discussions with patients and families, the ordering of unnecessary tests or procedures, delay in admissions or discharges, lower patient satisfaction, poorer handoffs, and other problems. For a recent survey posted on the-hospitalist.org, 51% of respondents picked “11 to 15” as the most appropriate patient census for a full-time Hospitalist.

From this study the researchers concluded that increasing the number of patients being seen or having high census numbers could paradoxically be increasing the costs of healthcare. [2] Another study concluded that increasing Hospitalist workload is associated with clinically meaningful increases in LOS and cost, suggesting the need for methods to mitigate the potential negative effects of increased Hospitalist workload on the efficiency and cost of care.

One study done to focus on productivity elevated the age-old question to the organizational finance department: “Is it better and financially more productive for the organization to lower the average starting census and to pay for the extra physician?” The answer was a resounding “Yes. [5]

Compensation of Hospitalists vary widely across the nation. A report done with the 2020 State of Hospital Medicine (SoHM) partnering with the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) provided data on Hospitalist compensation and productivity. The report offers significant and compelling evidence that Hospitalists continue to be compensated at rising rates due to the continued supply-and-demand mismatch and recognition of the overall value that Hospitalists generate rather than strictly the volume of their productivity.[3]

In an academic institution where Hospitalists teach medical students and residents, the number of patients that should be seen by Academic Hospitalist can become a contentious issue, focusing on the workload of the Hospitalist and the teaching and mentoring provided with high censuses. One study suggests that internal medicine clerkship student evaluations of Hospitalist faculty are negatively influenced by high clinical service intensity.6  The involvement in academia and the ability or desire for promotion, which depends on factors such as research and involvement in the University community, were all included in the study as most people are driven to become Hospitalists in academic centers by the desire to be involved in academics (teaching, education and research) rather than community hospitals. [6]

“Each institution needs to do a self-assessment based on clinician feedback. Is the workload manageable? What do their satisfaction surveys suggest? What are the turnover and burnout rates?” Ruth M. Kleinpell, PhD, RN, FAAN, FCCM, Professor of Nursing at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago and a nurse practitioner at Mercy Hospital and Medical Center. [7,8]

How many patients a Hospitalist should see in one day depends on many factors, including the Patient Case Mix Index (CMI), teaching or non-teaching service, admitting service versus consultative service, advanced practice providers, day-shift versus night-shift, observation versus regular admission patients, non-clinical duties, and hospital geography (where it can take a Hospitalist caring for 15 patients on 6 different nursing stations more time per day to manage than a hospitalist caring for 20 patients on a single nursing station and the patient demographic [4]).

Another factor to take into consideration of Hospitalist workload is the complexity of the patients. This study involves Hospitalists that are in a Health Network which includes an NCI designated cancer institute; thus, many admissions are complex cancer patients with complications of their malignancy or therapy.

Hospitalist burnout has become of growing concern with resultant high turnover rates; we experience this within our own institution. We thus thought it pertinent to incorporate an Oldenburg Burnout Inventory. “Burnout” is defined and measured as a work-related syndrome that is characterized by emotional exhaustion (i.e., a state of energy draining), cynicism (i.e., a sense of disengagement and gradual loss of concern about the contents or the recipients of one's work), and reduced professional efficacy (i.e., feelings of incompetence) that individuals experience in relation to their work. [9]

Nurse practitioners (NPs) are increasingly employed by hospital medicine groups and contribute to the care of the hospitalized adult patient. Prior research indicates NP hospitalists are empowered in their role. In this academic institution, the NPs admit and follow patients, but under the name of a Hospitalist and their admissions and discharges must be seen and signed by a Hospitalist, who is ultimately responsible for that patient. [10]

The goal of this study is to quantify the comfort level of the Hospitalist with their current census, to see if this impacts the quality of care for their patients, the desire and support in scholarly activities, their compensation, and their overall well-being at this institution.

This study will investigate the following interrelated questions as related to the Hospitalist:

  1. The comfort level with the current census and the proposed census.
  2. The effects that their current census has on overall patient care.
  3. Their satisfaction with their involvement in scholarly activity, including teaching medical students.
  4. Their satisfaction with their current compensation..
  5. The favorability of having an ARNP.

From this study, we hope to achieve a better understanding of the above and implement and standardize changes that will lead to an overall and better outcome for the Hospitalists, patient care, teaching/mentoring at this academic institution.

Methodology

We developed a 49-question questionnaire. The questionnaire was based on (a) Oldenburg Burnout Inventory [9] and (b) topics specific to census, compensation, academic support with desire for promotion, and the effects of workload on patient care and teaching. All questions were formatted with a 4-point Likert-type response scale. The questionnaires were distributed electronically using an online survey platform to all 32 of the Hospitalists (Faculty and Non-Faculty) in the University of Miami Health system, which consists of two academic inpatient facilities, a 560-bed tertiary hospital and a 40-bed cancer facility. Hospitalists working for less than one year were excluded from this study as we did not think they had sufficient time working in this institution to give valid answers. We collected responses from the Hospitalists in our inclusion criteria, consisting of 24, representing a 98% response rate. This study was exempted by our local IRB.

From this, potential conclusions were derived from the perspectives of the Hospitalists on that intended in the objective.

Results

Most respondents have been Hospitalists for 1-3 years (eleven of the 24). Only two respondents had greater than ten years in the current role of a Hospitalist and seven respondents had between 5-10 years’ experience on the role. Twenty-one respondents were Faculty at our academic institution.

All Hospitalists agreed that the “seven days on and seven days off” work schedule was favorable. Fifteen Hospitalists preferred to start their work week on a Monday, whereas four Hospitalists opted for Tuesday or Wednesday.

Only two Hospitalists agreed that their financial compensation was adequate; most Hospitalists disagreed, with the majority indicating that a $50,000-$74,000 per annum pay increase would be reasonable and desired. See Table 1.

 

Q1. How long have you been a Hospitalist?

Answer Choices

Responses

<1 year

0.00%

0

1-3 years

47.83%

11

3-5 years

13.04%

3

5-10 years

30.43%

7

>10 years

8.70%

2

 

Answered

23

 

Skipped

1

     

Q2. Are you Faculty/ Voluntary Faculty or House staff Physician?

Answer Choices

Responses

Faculty

87.50%

21

Voluntary Faculty

0.00%

0

Staff Physician (non-Faculty)

12.50%

3

 

Answered

24

 

Skipped

0

     

Q3. Do you find the seven days on and seven days off schedule favorable?

Answer Choices

Responses

Strongly agree

50.00%

12

Agree

50.00%

12

Disagree

0.00%

0

Strongly disagree

0.00%

0

 

Answered

24

 

Skipped

0

     

Q4. What day of the week would you prefer to start your service week on?

Answer Choices

Responses

Monday

62.50%

15

Tuesday

16.67%

4

Wednesday

16.67%

4

Thursday

0.00%

0

Friday

4.17%

1

Saturday

0.00%

0

Sunday

0.00%

0

 

Answered

24

 

Skipped

0

Q5. Do you think you should have an additional 2–3-week PTO (paid time off) included in your schedule?

Answer Choices

Responses

Strongly agree

86.96%

20

Agree

8.70%

2

Disagree

4.35%

1

Strongly disagree

0.00%

0

 

Answered

23

 

Skipped

1

Q6. Is the financial compensation being satisfactory?

Answer Choices

Responses

strongly agree

0.00%

0

Agree

8.70%

2

Disagree

43.48%

10

Strongly disagree

47.83%

11

 

Answered

23

 

Skipped

1

Q7. How much more would you consider to be an appropriate annual compensation?

Answer Choices

Responses

>$100,000.00

13.04%

3

$75,000- $99,000.00

13.04%

3

$50,000-$74,000.00

47.83%

11

$25,000-$49,000.00

17.39%

4

<$25,000.00

0.00%

0

Compensation adequate

8.70%

2

Other (please specify)

0.00%

0

 

Answered

23

 

Skipped

1

Table 1: Hospitalists Schedule and Compensation.

From the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory’s 16 questions, the median response rate was used to calculate the total score of 48 points, with a subtotal Disengagement of 23 points and Exhaustion subtotal of 23 points. Results indicate significant burnout amongst this group of Hospitalists. In addition, Hospitalists indicated missing 21-50% of important family events). See Table 2.

Q9. There are days when I feel tired before I arrive at work

Answer Choices

Responses

Strongly agree

56.52%

13

Agree

39.13%

9

Disagree

0.00%

0

Strongly disagree

4.35%

1

 

Answered

23

 

Skipped

1

     

Q10. It happens more and more often that I talk about my work in a negative way

Answer Choices

Responses

Strongly agree

43.48%

10

Agree

39.13%

9

Disagree

17.39%

4

Strongly disagree

0.00%

0

 

Answered

23

 

Skipped

1

     

Q11. After work, I tend to need more time than in the past to relax and feel better

Answer Choices

Responses

Strongly agree

60.87%

14

Agree

17.39%

4

Disagree

17.39%

4

Strongly disagree

4.35%

1

 

Answered

23

 

Skipped

1

     

Q12. I can tolerate the pressure of my work very well

Answer Choices

Responses

Strongly agree

4.35%

1

Agree

47.83%

11

Disagree

39.13%

9

Strongly disagree

8.70%

2

 

Answered

23

 

Skipped

1

     

Q13. Lately, I tend to think less at work and do my job almost mechanically

Answer Choices

Responses

Strongly agree

26.09%

6

Agree

56.52%

13

Disagree

17.39%

4

Strongly disagree

0.00%

0

 

Answered

23

 

Skipped

1

     

Q14. I find my work to be a positive challenge

Answer Choices

Responses

Strongly agree

4.35%

1

Agree

47.83%

11

Disagree

39.13%

9

Strongly disagree

8.70%

2

 

Answered

23

 

Skipped

1

     

Q15. During my work, I often feel emotionally drained

Answer Choices

Responses

Strongly agree

47.83%

11

Agree

34.78%

8

Disagree

13.04%

3

Strongly disagree

4.35%

1

 

Answered

23

 

Skipped

1

     

Q16. Over time, one can become dis-connected from this type of work

Answer Choices

Responses

Strongly agree

30.43%

7

Agree

34.78%

8

Disagree

21.74%

5

Strongly disagree

13.04%

3

 

Answered

23

 

Skipped

1

Q17. After working, I have enough energy for my leisure activities

Answer Choices

Responses

Strongly agree

0.00%

0

Agree

17.39%

4

Disagree

52.17%

12

Strongly disagree

30.43%

7

 

Answered

23

 

Skipped

1

     

Q18. Sometimes I feel sickened by my work tasks

Answer Choices

Responses

Strongly agree

26.09%

6

Agree

39.13%

9

Disagree

34.78%

8

Strongly disagree

0.00%

0

 

Answered

23

 

Skipped

1

     

Q19. After my work, I usually feel worn out and weary

Answer Choices

Responses

Strongly agree

47.83%

11

Agree

43.48%

10

Disagree

8.70%

2

Strongly disagree

0.00%

0

 

Answered

23

 

Skipped

1

     

Q20. This is the only type of work that I can imagine myself doing

Answer Choices

Responses

Strongly agree

4.35%

1

Agree

21.74%

5

Disagree

60.87%

14

Strongly disagree

13.04%

3

 

Answered

23

 

Skipped

1

     

Q21. Usually, I can manage the amount of my work well

Answer Choices

Responses

Strongly agree

4.35%

1

Agree

65.22%

15

Disagree

30.43%

7

Strongly disagree

0.00%

0

 

Answered

23

 

Skipped

1

     

Q22. I feel more and more engaged in my work

Answer Choices

Responses

Strongly agree

0.00%

0

Agree

17.39%

4

Disagree

69.57%

16

Strongly disagree

13.04%

3

 

Answered

23

 

Skipped

1

     

Q23. When I work, I usually feel energized

Answer Choices

Responses

Strongly agree

0.00%

0

Agree

21.74%

5

Disagree

65.22%

15

Strongly disagree

13.04%

3

 

Answered

23

 

Skipped

1

     

Q24. Are you missing important family events

Answer Choices

Responses

< 20% of the time

21.74%

5

21-50% of the time

47.83%

11

>51% of the time

30.43%

7

 

Answered

23

 

Skipped

1

Table 2: Oldenburg Burnout Inventory.

The following results are related to Hospitalists’ current census, views on census and ARNPs and suggestions for an appropriate patient census.

With regards to having an ARNP,43.48% of Hospitalists did not find this favorable and 30.43% of Hospitalist reported this being conditional, the most cited reason was: depends on ARNP and one Hospitalist mentioned having a structure and delegation of tasks.

Hospitalists reported currently having a census of 20-22 with an ARNP and a census of 16-18 without an ARNP. The two Non-Faculty personnel reported a census of 20.

With an ARNP, ten Hospitalists reported that an appropriate census would be 18; six Hospitalists thought that an appropriate cap would be 16; three Hospitalists answered 17 and three answered twenty.

One Hospitalist reported the current cap of 22 to be ideal. Table 3.

Q25. Is working with an ARNP favorable to you?

Answer Choices

Responses

Strongly agree

8.70%

2

Agree

17.39%

4

Disagree

26.09%

6

Strongly Disagree

17.39%

4

Other (please specify)

30.43%

7

Answered

23

Skipped

1

Other (please specify)

Depends on the specific ARNP

Yes, but the structure MUST be different in terms of delegating tasks. There is no proper structure

No

It depends on the ARNP you are working with

If the ARNP is experienced and knowledgeable then it can work but not in the current system

Depends on ARNP

Depends on the ARNP

Q26. With an ARNP, how many patients is the current cap? 

Answered

21

Skipped

3

Census

Number of Hospitalists

22

19

n/a

1

20

1

Q27. Without an ARNP, how many patients is the current cap?

Answered

21

Skipped

3

 Census

Number of Hospitalists

 16

19

 18

1

 n/a

1

Q28. What do you think the cap should be with an ARNP?

Answered

22

Skipped

 2

 Census

Number of Hospitalists

 16

20

 16-18

1

 n/a

1

Q29. What do you think the cap should be without an ARNP?

Answered

22

Skipped

2

Census

Number of Hospitalists

10

9

12

1

13

7

14

3

16

1

Q30. Do you think teams caring for more than 50% of patients admitted to Progressive Care or for malignancy or complications of malignancy or chemotherapy, should have a lower cap adjustment than other teams?

Responses

Answered

23

Skipped

1

Yes

19

No

4

Q31. If ‘Yes’ to #21, what cap would you suggest with an ARNP?

Answered

17

Skipped

7

 Census

Number of Hospitalists

 10

1

 12

6

 14

4

 15

1

 16

2

 18

2

 20

1

Q32. If ‘Yes’ to #21, what cap would you suggest without an ARNP?

Answered 16

 Skipped     8

 Census

Number of Hospitalists

8

1

 10

4

 12

4

 13

1

 14

4

Table 3: Census and ARNP.

Without an ARNP, twenty Hospitalists indicated a cap of 12-14 as suitable. Nineteen of the hospitalists suggested that the cap should be adjusted for teams caring for > 50% progressive care or patients with malignancy or complications of chemotherapy. 100% of the Hospitalists suggested a lower cap with or without an ARNP. Table 3

96% of Hospitalists indicated that patient care is compromised by the high caps that they carry, taking the form of delayed discharges, communicating with patient and family (100%), paying closer attention to medical detail (100%), and the ability to utilize less consultative services (87%). Table 4

Q33. Do you think ‘Patient Care: Delayed Discharges’ could be prevented with lower census/cap?

Answer Choices

Responses

Yes

95.65%

22

No

4.35%

1

 

Answered

23

 

Skipped

1

     

Q34. Do you think ‘Patient Care: Communicating with Patient and Family’ would be enhanced with a lower census?

Answer Choices

Responses

Yes

100.00%

23

No

0.00%

0

 

Answered

23

 

Skipped

1

     

Q35. Do you think that ‘Patient Care: Closer Attention to Medical Detail’ would be enhanced with a lower census?

Answer Choices

Responses

Yes

100.00%

23

No

0.00%

0

 

Answered

23

 

Skipped

1

Q36. Do you think that Patient Care: 'utilizing less consultative services'. would be enhanced by a lower census?

Answer Choices

Responses

Yes

86.96%

20

No

13.04%

3

 

Answered

23

 

Skipped

1

Q37. In the last twelve months, have you had a medical student?

Answer Choices

Responses

less than 25% of the time

43.48%

10

25-50% of the time

26.09%

6

50-75% of the time

13.04%

3

>75% of the time

8.70%

2

Never

8.70%

2

 

Answered

23

 

Skipped

1

Table 4: Patient Care.

While twenty of the 22 faculty Hospitalists enjoyed teaching medical students, all 22 Hospitalists reported that their cap was not adjusted to accommodate teaching of these students and that this made their job more demanding. Table 5

Q38. Do you enjoy teaching medical students?

Answer Choices

Responses

Strongly agree

52.17%

12

Agree

34.78%

8

Disagree

4.35%

1

Strongly disagree

8.70%

2

 

Answered

23

 

Skipped

1

     

Q39. Is your cap adjusted to accommodate teaching of the medical student?

Answer Choices

Responses

Yes

4.35%

1

No

95.65%

22

 

Answered

23

 

Skipped

1

     

Q40. Does having a medical student make your job more demanding? 

Answer Choices

Responses

Yes

95.65%

22

No

4.35%

1

 

Answered

23

 

Skipped

1

     

Q41. Is working with residents is favorable to you?

Answer Choices

Responses

Strongly agree

39.13%

9

Agree

43.48%

10

Disagree

13.04%

3

Strongly disagree

4.35%

1

 

Answered

23

 

Skipped

1

 

Table 5: Teaching.

Eighteen of the Hospitalists felt that they had no input in the decisions made by administration that directly impacts them, and 20 of the 22-faculty reported that there was inadequate support to perform scholarly activities (18 of whom cited that there was not enough time allocated to do so).

21 of the 22 faculty Hospitalists reported that they did not have a senior faculty mentoring them, with 18 of the 22 hoping to be promoted in the University in the future and 19 responded that there was “inadequate support to  making promotion possible” Table 6.

When asked two things that they  liked about being a Hospitalist, the responses included the patient mix; severity of illness and associated challenges; the process of inpatient work as patients come in sick and leave improved; patient interaction; peers; patient mix; taking care of sick patients; schedule; and comprehensive exposure to patients in their complexity.

When asked what changes they would like to see implemented, the Hospitalists? responses were: mandatory vacation; lower cap or higher (at least current fair market value) compensation; salary increase to fair market value; lower caps and improved the communication with specialists Table 7.

Q42. Do you feel that you have an input in the decisions made by administration that directly impacts your work?

Answer Choices

Responses

Yes

21.74%

5

No

78.26%

18

 

Answered

23

 

Skipped

1

Q43. Do you think there is enough support for you to perform scholarly activities?

Answer Choices

Responses

Yes

13.04%

3

No

86.96%

20

 

Answered

23

 

Skipped

1

Q44. Do you think there is enough time allocated for scholarly activities?

Answer Choices

Responses

Yes

21.74%

5

No

78.26%

18

 

Answered

23

 

Skipped

1

Q45. Do you have a senior faculty mentoring you?

Answer Choices

Responses

Yes

8.70%

2

No

91.30%

21

 

Answered

23

 

Skipped

1

Q46. Do you wish to be promoted in this University in the future?

Responses

Yes

78.26%

18

No

4.35%

1

N/A

17.39%

4

 

Answered

23

 

Skipped

1

Q47. Do you believe you are being given the support for promotion to be possible?

Answer Choices

Responses

Yes

17.39%

4

No

82.61%

19

 

Answered

23

 

Skipped

1

Table 6: Scholarly activity, mentoring, promotion, and administration.

Q48. What are two things you enjoy about being a Hospitalist?

Teaching

Patient care

Caring for patients with a wide variety of clinical

Variety of pathology

Providing direct care for acutely ill patients

variety of patients - ability to see the wide gamut of internal medicine

Not being restricted to just one organ related pathology

7 on 7 off

Type of patient encounter

Schedule

To be able to handle different pathologies

Schedule

I’m Nocturnist I like straight forward job

My peers in the division

Taking care of sick patients

The patient mix

Schedule having 7 days off in a row.

Severity of illness and associated challenges

I enjoy the process of inpatient work as patients come in sick and leave improved

Patient interaction

Comprehensive exposure to patients in their complexity

Q49. If there were two changes you could implement in your current job as a Hospitalist, what would they be?

Answered

20

Skipped

4

A clear pathway to develop academic hospitalists

Lower the patient census

Lower the cap

2 weeks of PTO/vacation (not on our off weeks)

increased structural support including but not limited to the development of the department as whole, access to research support, administrative support, financial restructuring, and development with models considering how other academic systems work, workflow support (having dedicated discharge planning teams supporting academic teams, along with pharmacist, SW, case management, etc.).

Census control, compensation

PTO/higher pay

There needs to be frequent mtgs with CM and RNs educating them to first off communicate with one another, so we do not get 4-5 phone calls from bedside RN, charge RN, dc planner and CM about the same thing. Pls know when it is appropriate to call a physician. I have received calls asking about social issues that are completely non-medical requiring me to stop handling a serious medical problem to deal w/ social issues.

Less handoff/sign-out (multiple providers within 1 week)

Less patient

Support from admin including more frequent communication and asking for input before instituting changes

Decrease cap

mandatory vacation

Lower cap or higher (at least current fair market value) compensation

Salary increases to fair market

Lower caps

Eliminate floor triage

Improve the communication with specialists

Start work week on Tuesday

Shared decision making with transparency

Census control and focus on real quality outcomes

Get more support for scholarly/educational activities

Start working on Tuesday instead of Monday

Decrease census cap or increase salary (if caps are not decreased)

education to administration and the department/HR regarding salaries for Hospital Medicine based on current and ongoing responsibilities placed on the division, complexity of care of our growing census of patients, and the ever-increasing workload placed on hospital medicine department, amid inflation and increasing prices in Miami.

Having the ability to progress in career or being given equal opportunity to all the staff w both teaching and non-teaching irrespective of how many years of your experience is with UM

Options for more than 1 week vacation block

Geographic location of patients/teams

Actual vacation days

Get more support staff

Better nursing support

Stability of chair and administrators.

collective bargaining agreement with administration about decisions

Table 7: Hospitalists: what they currently  enjoy and changes they would implement.

Discussion

The Hospitalist model for inpatient care has significantly impacted inpatient medicine and is clearly more evident in academic medical centers. 

The survey conducted among Hospitalists in our academic medical center revealed high levels of burnout  (disengagement and exhaustion) using the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory’s 16 questions, with a total score of 48  points, with a subtotal Disengagement of 23 points and Exhaustion subtotal of 23 points. In addition, Hospitalists indicated missing 21-50% of important family events

The overwhelming majority of Hospitalists in this institution indicated that their high census compromised patient care with longer length of stays, inability to pay closer attention to medical detail, and the inability to communicate with the patients and their families as the Hospitalist would wish to. The overwhelming majority reported a desire for a lower cap with or without an ARNP.

43.48% of Hospitalists did not find working with an ARNP to be favorable and 30.43% of Hospitalist reported working with an ARNP is conditional, the most cited reason was: “depends on the specific ARNP”.

All Hospitalists agreed that it was more demanding to have medical students and, due to the lack of accommodations for this, such as a lowered census. This made having medical students on their service, an activity that they enjoy, an added burden to their workload.

Most Hospitalists also reported not enough time for scholarly activity. Faculty Hospitalists also indicated lack of mentorship, and though the vast majority wanted to be promoted they did not feel supported in their desire to do so.

Most Hospitalists reported that the administration made decisions without their input and that they should have 2-3  weeks PTO (paid time off) and that they were receiving a lower than preferred compensation.

This study was to gain the perspectives of the Hospitalists. The results are not surprising considering the literature review in the study’s background.

This high level of dissatisfaction leads to a high turnover rate and brevity in the position.

Conclusion

Each institution needs to do a self-assessment based on clinician feedback on Hospitalists workload<burn-out and satisfaction to reduce the high turnover rates and brevity of this role. From this study in this academic institution, the perspectives of Hospitalists revealed a high level of burn out (exhaustion and disengagement) and high assigned patient censuses that negatively impact their ability to deliver optimal patient care. Most Hospitalists reported lack of mentorship and inadequate time allocated for scholarly activity. The majority reported not having their input on decisions made by the administration that directly affects them. Most were unsatisfied with their compensation and the lack of PTO (paid time off). The majority would like to be promoted in this academic institution but feel unsupported to achieve this goal.

References

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  2. The Hospitalist, Jan 27, (2012), Appropriate Patient Census: Hospital Medicine’s Holy Grail: Bryan Nelson https://hospitalmedicaldirector.com/how-many-patients-should-a-hospitalist-see-a-day/
  3. Key trends in hospitalist compensation from the 2020 SoHM Report by Linda M. Kurian, MD, SFHM, FACP
  4. The Hospitalist Medical Director, August (2016): James Allen https://hospitalmedicaldirector.com/how-many-patients-should-a-hospitalist-see-a-day/https://www.the-hospitalist.org/hospitalist/article/125034/qi-initiatives/quality-journey-hospitalist-david-j-yu
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