Basic Principles for Pediatric Hospital Medicine Published A recent policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), published online in Pediatrics, urges recognition of the expanded roles and responsibilities of pediatric hospitalists and offers basic principles for pediatric hospital medicine (PHM) programs, including focusing on the unique culture of each program within its parent institution and the importance of coordinated, patient-centered care.4
The article outlines settings available for PHM programs, optimal processes for care transitions, and the need for leadership and goal setting.
“It is implicit in all the aforementioned recommendations that the overarching goal is always to provide the best possible care for children and protect the safety of children in the hospital setting,” the authors note.
AAP’s Section on Hospital Medicine supports a policy of voluntary referrals to pediatric hospital medicine programs.