Hospitalists play dynamic role in ensuring high-quality patient care

We recently interviewed Dr. Romil Chadha, division chief for Hospital Medicine at UK HealthCare, about the role hospitalists play in patient care. Hospitalists are the largest subspecialty of internal medicine and are the front-line providers for care delivery for hospitalized patients.

What is a hospitalist?

A hospitalist is a physician who has dedicated their career to hospitalized patients.

Hospitalists are doctors who oversee your care during your hospital stay.

Their roles have evolved throughout the pandemic, and hospitalists have adapted with the shifting and increasing needs of our healthcare systems.

What made you want to pursue a career as a hospitalist?

Hospitalist Medicine is the prime career choice for internal medicine graduates. It offers the flexibility of schedule and high-intensity practice of internal medicine. It allows physicians the time to bond with patients and serve them while they are ill and hospitalized.  

What does a typical day as a hospitalist look like?

We have long and intense days. A hospitalist at UK HealthCare usually works seven days in a row and then takes seven days off. The day starts early, around 7 a.m., and goes up to 7 p.m. Every day we begin with looking at overnight vitals, laboratory and imaging reports. The next step is to see all patients. Then comes ordering further investigations or talking to consultants and families. During this time, there is fast-paced communication with other team members like nurses, pharmacists, case management and therapy services. The last part of our day is documenting what we did for each patient.  

What do you love most about being a hospitalist?

Early gratification to help the patient is the essential part. We see the patient, analyze-diagnose and start the treatment. For most illnesses, we see the results quickly. We are like the game of Jenga. The medical complexities have increased so much over the decades that each decision impacts multiple other organs or diseases. We also love talking to our patients and walking them through shared decision-making.  

What is the Annual Heartland Hospital Medicine Conference?

The University of Kentucky Division of Hospital Medicine hosts the annual Heartland Hospital Medicine Conference. The conference will be held in Lexington, Ky., from Aug. 25-27, 2022, and includes nationally recognized leaders in hospital medicine and other stellar speakers from around the Heartland region. It is a chance for physicians to attend, learn and network with their hospitalist colleagues from around the area and learn about the latest advances in hospital medicine.

Why is the conference important and beneficial?

The Heartland Hospital Medicine Conference provides a single, centrally located event for hospitalists from around the region to gather, network and learn from regional experts about all the latest developments in hospital medicine. We plan to deliver the current evidence and innovative practice patterns to participants to deliver the best, highest value and most efficient care possible.