Q: Is the fear of a hospitalist shortage on your radar screen?
A: It is. But I can tell you this: We won’t stress about it, because it is going to happen. There will be a shortage—there already is. What we have to try to do is position ourselves as the company, or employer, of choice. We get close to 3,000 applicants a year and hire 200 or so, so we’re fortunate in that we have a tremendous amount of exposure to many of the people who are desiring a hospitalist career.
Q: What do you see as the biggest benefit to the IPC model?
A: There are a couple of things I see, not just as advantages but also as strengths. Number one, IPC has extremely strong leadership. All of the people I work with on the senior leadership level are top-notch people. It’s great to be part of an organization that surrounds itself with talent. The next thing is, it’s a great place to work. IPC was selected as one of the 100 best places to work in healthcare (by Modern Healthcare). We made this list, and a lot of other high-profile names in healthcare did not, so we’re very proud of that.
Q: How does the IPC model translate to increased quality of care?
A: We have resources to educate our physicians. There are hospitals around the country with one-person, two-person, or four-person groups that don’t have the resources to do certain types of training. They acquire it by experience. We’re able to orient them to hospital medicine first … and then bring them along slowly and give them the additional training we think they need to succeed. We also have the resources to do ongoing education and monitor quality measures and efficiency measures as well.
Q: You have been a member of SHM’s Public Policy Committee for about four years. How important is that role?
A: I think it’s incredibly important. The Public Policy Committee gets to be in tune with what the national issues are, and we can help the society foster and create relationships. We had the chance to meet with members of Congress and other national organizations like CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) and AHRQ (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality), even before healthcare reform became important.
Q: You and other members of the committee went to Washington, D.C., in March. What was the benefit of that trip?
A: We’ve been to Washington several times. We try to do it at least yearly. In previous years, we spent a lot of time just educating people about what hospitalists do. When we first went there, we were surprised by how many members of Congress had never heard of what a hospitalist was. This past year, they were much more aware of what a hospitalist is and how we can help with the goals of healthcare reform.
Q: What’s next for you?
A: I think for now I’m pretty happy with my position and my roles and responsibilities. I help with several different aspects of IPC. I help with some of the risk-management compliance issues. I make presentations to different hospitals and groups we’re thinking of doing business with. I have a varied career, and I enjoy it very much. TH
Mark Leiser is a freelance writer based in New Jersey.