Hospitalists

What the job really is

Provide inpatient care predominantly in settings such as medical wards, acute care units, intensive care units, rehabilitation centers, or emergency rooms. Manage and coordinate patient care throughout treatment.

At a glance

• Sector: Healthcare Practitioners
• O*NET-SOC code: 29-1229
• O*NET job zone: 5 — extensive preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• Diagnose, treat, or provide continuous care to hospital inpatients.
• Prescribe medications or treatment regimens to hospital inpatients.
• Order or interpret the results of tests such as laboratory tests and radiographs (x-rays).
• Admit patients for hospital stays.
• Conduct discharge planning and discharge patients.
• Write patient discharge summaries and send them to primary care physicians.
• Refer patients to medical specialists, social services, or other professionals as appropriate.
• Direct, coordinate, or supervise the patient care activities of nursing or support staff.
• Attend inpatient consultations in areas of specialty.
• Communicate with patients' primary care physicians upon admission, when treatment plans change, or at discharge to maintain continuity and quality of care.
• Participate in continuing education activities to maintain or enhance knowledge and skills.
• Direct or support quality improvement projects or safety programs.

Tools and technology

Epic Systems, MEDITECH software, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, Aspheric lens magnifiers, Automated defibrillators, Ayre's spatula, Bag valve mask BVM resuscitators, Billing software, Binocular light compound microscopes

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• General Internal Medicine Physicians
• Emergency Medicine Physicians
• Family Medicine Physicians
• Pediatricians, General
• Nurse Practitioners
• Obstetricians and Gynecologists
• Clinical Nurse Specialists
• Physician Assistants

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 5 (extensive preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

Browse the verified job sources directory, or explore more occupations.

Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Hospitalists — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.