I presume a fair number of y'all are at this lil shin-dig in Chicago. I hope to see feedback here regarding your experiences.
I've been to a fair number of medical meetings. I was hopeful that this crowd would be palpably different than previous meetings (this is my first hospitalist party). I was expecting a brighter-eyed, happier, more energetic and (let me just say it) younger group than the average conference attracts. Granted, I'm basing most of that on my experience at the pre-course session yesterday. So maybe I'll meet more like-minded peeps today. Although I must admit, I'm torn about the special interest forums later today -- I apparantly belong to 3 special-interest groups.
It makes me wonder what the breakdown is when it comes to the underlying reason so many have become hospitalists. There are a lot of people who see hospitalist medicine as a means to an end (fellowship, a more comfortable retirement), but for me, I see hospitalist medicine as probably my last shot at finding a satisfying medical career (short of massive and well-executed healthcare reform -- an event I'm not holding my breath for).
I *really* hope this meeting just doesn't come down to bitching about what we hate about our jobs. I hope to hear some real voices of leadership with ideas and solutions for protecting an emerging profession that can potentially be one of the powerhouses in American healthcare.
Friday, May 15, 2009
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You may be right. Hospitalists could become a powerhouse. If we are the Attending physicians for 70% of all hospital patients, we have control over a lot of money. And much of the healthcare dollar is spent in the hospital in the last days and months of life. SHM should total up what percentage of healthcare spending is controlled by hospitalists.
I got back late last night.
I too was hoping that the crowd would be younger. It was palpably older (I'm 30), which is ok.
I had a good time, felt like I learned a bit each day. So, it was well worth it.
Which pre-course did you attend? I did critical care for the hospitalist.
Perhaps not young in age, but I found the physicians' take on technology refreshing and nothing but young. I was an exhibitor (and Yes, I read this blog) and my company's healthcare technology solution was overwhelmed with hospitalists wanting the latest and greatest peak at our product.
They came in all ages too. I spoke with medical students to physicians in their sixties who raved about technology in the inpatient setting.
I went to the Med-Peds group. Total attendance? 22. Kinda depressing.
It was really more of a catharsis as most of the people there were finding difficulty incorporating pediatrics in our work, wondering if we wasted all that time for dual board certification if we were ultimately going to follow the adult hopsitalist path.
It's not surprising though. There's no cash in peds. Unless it's worth it to a community hospital to lose some money on a service that gains favor with the community, it's all uphill to get those kiddos back on your service.
I was at the medpeds meeting too. Don't give up hope! Medpeds has a strong future if your hospital has any kids or babies there. The standard of care for children is becoming 100% in house physician staff. While you are waiting around for the kids to get sick, you admit adults. Everyone benefits, and only med peds (or hospital trained family practice) can do it.
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