At one point in our lives, we’ve all been at a hospital for some reason or another. And although the odds are none of us enjoy our time spent there, it cannot be denied that without access to modern healthcare, our lives would be significantly more difficult – and different.

Most people are first exposed to the concept of family practice before any other field of medicine. Indeed, most people’s first experience with a doctor was when they were taken to a family physician when young.

Yet even though the term “family physician” is quite common and many people know of it, the term “hospitalist” draws a bit more confusion than expected. If you know what it is, then it’s self-explanatory. If not, then you must be having questions as to what a “hospital” doctor does!

In that case – or if you’re simply wondering what will await you if you choose to pursue the career of a hospitalist – then keep reading! I’ve quickly detailed the concept of family practice together with how it applies in the context of a hospital below.

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How Is a Hospitalist Different?

Besides having a relatively unintuitive name, a hospitalist is mostly the same as a family practice doctor. The source of confusion, for most people, comes from the fact that doctor specializations are named after what they govern. A gastroenterologist covers the gastrointestinal system – but does a hospitalist specialize in hospitals?

In a way, yes. A hospitalist is a primary care physician, commonly known as a family doctor. Compared to your traditional family physician, however, the hospitalist’s residence is the hospital. Although they both have the same level of expertise on paper, the hospitalist is also able to direct patients to in-hospital X-rays, for example.

If you visit your family doctor and they decide that your situation requires a visit to the hospital, then you’ll accordingly be referred to the hospitalist. They are essentially your transitional step between a doctor’s cabinet visit and spending time in the hospital and will be the person you will frequently be in contact with.

Can Anyone Become a Hospitalist?

Anyone who has the passion and dedication to become a doctor has a chance to acquire residency at a hospital. Mind you, becoming a physician is not an easy path in the least, requiring at least eleven years of education and commitment.

To give you an idea, a hospitalist would have to finish:

• College and acquire a bachelor’s degree
• Medical school that takes four years to complete and a $200,000 investment
• Residency under a more experienced physician for three years
• A fellowship program
• Further medical education

As has been made clear, education does not stop after medical school. Not only is medical school considered to be the “great filter” for everyone who is not cut out to be a physician, but there is also the possibility you might be crippled by debt for the first few years of your career.

On the other hand, it’s not all quite so doom and gloom. Even though it is very hard to become a physician, it is nonetheless one of the most rewarding jobs in the world as well.

A point must be made, however, that it’s not as easy as some might think. Unfortunately, the full extent behind the difficulty of surviving medical school is an underspread concept when compared to how much it should be emphasized.

Keep Yourself Healthy

It’s always good to know as much as we can about the field of medicine so that we’re not completely lost when presented with a health problem. Similarly, it’s also good to keep a close eye on our health at all times so as to ensure a good and secure future for ourselves.

Because let’s face it – we all love medicine, but not all of us are too happy about visiting the doctor. One way to solve it would be to become one yourself, and if that’s what you’re considering, then I wholeheartedly encourage you!