41,316
Hospitalists
100%
Accepting patients
74%
Most common: MD
FindClarity lists 41,316 hospitalists nationwide. 100% are currently accepting new patients. The most common credential is MD (74%). 83% accept Medicare.
Hospitalists are physicians who specialize in caring for patients during hospital stays. When you are admitted to the hospital, a hospitalist often manages your care from admission through discharge, coordinating with specialists, updating your family, and ensuring safe transitions back to outpatient care.
Hospitalists are typically board-certified in internal medicine or family medicine and have chosen to focus their practice entirely on inpatient care. Some hospitalists pursue additional training in hospital medicine leadership, quality improvement, or critical care. The specialty emerged in the late 1990s and has grown rapidly because dedicated hospital-based doctors can respond faster and spend more time with inpatients than physicians who split time between office and hospital.
Having a doctor who is physically present in the hospital throughout your stay means faster response to changing conditions, better coordination between your medical team, and a dedicated advocate who manages the complexity of inpatient care. Your hospitalist communicates with your regular doctor about your hospital course and discharge plan.
You do not choose to see a hospitalist. If you are admitted to the hospital, a hospitalist is typically assigned to your care. They manage acute conditions (pneumonia, heart failure exacerbations, blood clots, post-surgical complications, uncontrolled diabetes), coordinate with specialists, and plan your discharge. Some hospitals also have hospitalists in their observation units and emergency departments.
The hospitalist will introduce themselves, review your symptoms and medical history, and explain the plan for your hospital stay. They round on your room daily (often in the morning), order tests, adjust medications, and call in specialists as needed. They are available throughout the day if your condition changes. Before discharge, they will review your medications, follow-up appointments, and what to watch for at home.
Hospitalist daily fee: $200-500 (included in hospital charges) · Hospital stay (average): $2,000-5,000/day · ICU stay: $5,000-10,000+/day
Your hospitalist will communicate with your regular doctor about your admission, course of treatment, and discharge plan. In most hospitals, your PCP does not manage your inpatient care directly but receives updates. After discharge, you transition back to your PCP for ongoing management. Ask your hospitalist to send a discharge summary to your doctor.
Hospitalists work in shifts, typically seven days on and seven days off. This means you may see a different hospitalist on some days. They review your chart and communicate with the previous doctor at shift change (called a handoff). If this concerns you, ask the nursing staff who your current hospitalist is and request to speak with them.
Ask your hospitalist about your discharge plan early. Before leaving, make sure you understand your new medications (what they are, why you are taking them, any side effects), your follow-up appointments, activity restrictions, and red flags that should prompt a call to your doctor or a return to the ER. Have someone pick you up who can listen to the discharge instructions with you.
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Hospitalist services are part of your hospital stay and covered under your inpatient benefits. You may receive separate bills from the hospital, the hospitalist, and any consulting specialists. The No Surprises Act protects you from out-of-network hospitalist billing at in-network facilities. Review your Explanation of Benefits (EOB) carefully after a hospital stay and question any unexpected charges.