SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-Hospitalist Perspectives on Work Models: A Qualitative Study

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This qualitative mixed-methods study explored how hospitalists view their evolving work models and staffing structures. Researchers conducted seven virtual focus groups and an embedded survey with hospitalist physicians, advanced practice providers, and leaders from academic institutions in the HOMERuN network. Thirty-one people participated in focus groups, and 27 completed the survey.

Three major themes emerged:

1. <strong>Expanding roles and increasing service complexity</strong>  
   Hospitalists now cover many different service lines, including consults, night coverage, co-management, triage, procedures, and specialized services such as transplant, oncology, and addiction medicine. Participants described the growing number and complexity of roles as difficult to manage.

2. <strong>Hospitalists as “fixers” in a reactive system</strong>  
   Hospitalists often felt expected to solve a wide range of problems beyond the scope of a general internist. They described their work as increasingly shaped by external demands, rising patient acuity, and system capacity pressures.

3. <strong>Work design and competing priorities</strong>  
   Participants recognized benefits of specialized roles, such as improved continuity and efficiency, but also noted challenges like scheduling complexity and the need for strong backup or jeopardy systems. They also highlighted tension between what is best for patients, learners, and workflow versus what hospitalists want for work-life balance.

Overall, the study shows that hospital medicine groups are expanding quickly, but the field lacks clear definition and sustainable work design. The authors conclude that understanding and improving work models is important for reducing burnout, limiting turnover, and building more sustainable careers in hospital medicine.

Asset Subtitle

Sara Westergaard

Meta Tag

Author List Angela Keniston, Anna Maw, Anne S. Linker, Gopi J. Astik, Kendall Rogers, Khooshbu Dayton, Marisha Burden, Michelle Knees, Sara Westergaard

Category Research

Concept Hospital Medicine

Concept Work Model

Concept Hospitalist

Concept Continuity of Care

Concept Service Line

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

Presenting Author Sara Westergaard

Track Translating Research into Practice

Keywords

hospital medicine

hospitalists

work models

staffing structures

qualitative study

mixed-methods

service complexity

burnout

work design

patient acuity

Hospital Medicine

Work Model

Hospitalist

Continuity of Care

Service Line