Q: You mentioned that you collect data?
A: I work with the folks in the IT and Division Analysis departments in the hospital to identify what data we can get, what is important for me to know … so we can make decisions for the better of the group and the hospital. Some of that involves knowing what time of the day we have the highest admissions consults and what days of the week we’re busiest, and then organizing our schedule accordingly. It’s important to look at numbers and data, as opposed to going by when you feel you’re busy and when you’re not, because sometimes the feel is different from what is actually happening.
Q: What are the challenges facing your HMG?
A: Recruitment is a huge challenge. The growth of hospital medicine is much greater than anticipated even five years ago. Many programs are understaffed right now. That’s not because they don’t have financing, but because they don’t have physicians available to staff the slots. When I started my group, I was able to recruit a strong, core group of five physicians in six months. I don’t think there is any way you could do that now. That’s a trend that’s changed for the worst. I don’t think internal medicine is going to be able to support the need for care providers within hospital medicine programs.
Q: How should hospital medicine groups look to fill their vacancies?
A: I think opportunities will exist for well-trained and motivated family medicine physicians. Many more rural or community-based hospitals are turning to family physicians to staff programs. Typically, family physicians represent only 3% of hospital medicine program slots. I see that percentage increasing fairly significantly in the next five years. TH