Organizing a hospitalist program: an overview of fundamental concepts

The organization of hospitalist programs varies significantly, partly because of the structure of different health care settings. As hospitalist programs mature, however, many principles emerge as valuable components of effective practices. This article reviews some of the concepts that can be a worthwhile part of nearly any practice, including practice volume, revenue, staffing needs, and other administrative concerns. In addition, the article emphasizes communication and scheduling issues for hospitalists.