SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-Unique Elective in Hospital Medicine for Medical Students

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The document describes the creation of a new medical student elective called the <strong>Sophomore Hospitalist Elective</strong>, designed for <strong>fourth-year medical students (M4s)</strong> at Cooper University Health Care. The course was developed to address a gap in hospital medicine education for medical students and to provide an alternative opportunity for clinical independence when sub-internship spots are limited.

Hospital medicine is presented as a complex specialty that involves not only direct patient care but also important non-clinical responsibilities such as healthcare system improvement, leadership, and quality initiatives. The elective aims to introduce students to both aspects of the field and to highlight potential career opportunities in hospital medicine.

The course lasts <strong>two weeks</strong>, runs for <strong>50 hours per week</strong>, and does not include nights or weekends. Students are supervised directly by an <strong>attending physician without residents</strong>. Clinically, students pre-round, write daily progress notes for <strong>six assigned patients</strong>, participate in bedside rounds, call consultants, provide family updates, and join afternoon table rounds. Non-clinical components include either a <strong>medical education track</strong>, where students supervise a simulation-based session, or a <strong>medical informatics track</strong>, where they participate in ongoing quality improvement projects.

The authors conclude that this elective is a unique and valuable experience that gives students more direct interaction with attendings, greater responsibility in patient care, and exposure to the broader leadership role of hospitalists. Feedback has been positive, and the authors hope to continue developing ways to encourage student interest in hospital medicine.

Asset Subtitle

Adriem Q. Ortiz

Meta Tag

Author List Adriem Q. Ortiz, Cynthia Glickman, Kathryn Haroldson

Category Innovations

Concept Hospital Medicine

Concept Inpatient Care

Concept Direct Patient Care

Concept Hospitalist

Concept Quality Improvement

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization Cooper University Hospital

Presenting Author Adriem Q. Ortiz

Track Education

Keywords

hospital medicine

medical student elective

fourth-year medical students

clinical independence

sub-internship alternative

attending supervision

quality improvement

medical informatics

medical education

Cooper University Health Care

Hospital Medicine

Inpatient Care

Direct Patient Care

Hospitalist

Quality Improvement