SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-Rapid Clinical Growth and the Educational Mission: a Qualitative Study

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This qualitative study explored how rapid clinical growth at academic medical centers (AMCs) has affected the educational mission of hospitalist groups, and what strategies they are using to preserve teaching and academic development.<br /><br />Researchers interviewed 17 hospitalist leaders from 17 AMCs nationwide between September 2021 and January 2022. Participants included division heads, section heads, service directors, and other hospital medicine leaders. Eligible AMCs had at least 200 beds, sustained clinical growth over the past five years, and teaching as a central mission. Interviews were conducted virtually, supplemented by REDCap surveys, and analyzed using thematic analysis with both inductive and deductive coding, investigator triangulation, and member checking.<br /><br />The main finding was that clinical growth has intensified tension between clinical and educational responsibilities. Leaders described a persistent mismatch between the growing demand for patient care and the limited supply of traditional teaching opportunities. Many noted that academic hospitalists are being pulled toward more clinical work, leaving less time and energy for education, career development, and scholarly work.<br /><br />Hospitalist groups responded creatively in several ways. Some expanded non-traditional teaching opportunities, such as teaching medical students, advanced practice providers, and other learners; offering lectures, small groups, journal clubs, and professional development sessions; and developing electives or educational tracks. Others restructured the workforce by creating fellowships, specialty services, co-attending models, and new leadership roles in residency or medical school. Some groups also re-imagined academic hospitalist careers to better tailor pathways that balance teaching, clinical work, and leadership.<br /><br />The study concludes that while these strategies have helped, they have not eliminated the imbalance between clinical and educational demands. Ongoing innovation will be necessary to sustain academic hospitalist careers and preserve the educational mission of AMCs.

Asset Subtitle

Vishruti Patel

Meta Tag

Author List Angela Keniston, Catherine Callister, Khooshbu Dayton, Lauren McBeth, Marisha Burden, Neelam Mistry, Sagarika Arogyaswamy, Sarah E. Mann, Vishruti Patel

Category Research

Concept Academic Hospitalist Group

Concept Educational Mission

Concept Clinical Growth

Concept Clinical Responsibility

Concept Teaching Service Opportunity

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization University of Colorado School of Medicine

Presenting Author Vishruti Patel

Track Education

Keywords

academic medical centers

hospitalist groups

clinical growth

educational mission

teaching opportunities

academic hospitalists

medical education

qualitative study

workforce restructuring

career development

Academic Hospitalist Group

Educational Mission

Clinical Growth

Clinical Responsibility

Teaching Service Opportunity