Hospital medicine physicians play a key role in enhancing care quality, reducing costs, and minimizing unnecessary treatments. These contributions have made them essential to healthcare delivery; however, there are growing indications that the demand for hospitalists will outpace employment levels.
The Hospitalist Workforce
Hospitalists have become a vital component of hospital-based care; today, there are 33,257 active hospitalists in the United States.
The demand for hospitalists is projected to grow significantly, with 72,500 new positions expected by 2029. To address this growing need, strategic and proactive planning will be essential to maintaining consistent access to care.
Internal Medicine Residency Trends
While internal medicine residency programs boast a high fill rate of 89.8%, much of the interest comes from residents viewing internal medicine as a stepping stone to sub-specialization rather than a long-term career in general practice.
Understanding the Growing Demands for Hospitalists
The Aging Population's Impact on Hospitalist Care
By 2030, one in five Americans will be 65 or older, driving a greater need for hospitalists as older adults typically require more frequent inpatient care. In fact, inpatient stays for this population are expected to increase by 23.5% in 2025, highlighting the growing strain on hospital resources.
Preparing for Rising Inpatient Volumes
Increased incidence of chronic disease, an aging population, and the growing demands for mental health services will continue to cause inpatient volumes to rise.
Primary Care Physician Shortages
Primary care shortages, in particular, are driving the demand for hospitalists due to gaps in preventative and routine care, which can lead to more severe patient conditions resulting in hospitalization. With approximately 83 million Americans living in areas without sufficient access to primary care physicians, patients often turn to emergency departments for care that might have been preventable, leading to hospital admission.
Strategic Approaches to Stabilize Hospitalist Access:
These trends present significant challenges for hospitals in maintaining sufficient staffing levels while effectively meeting patient demand. Strategic workforce planning will be crucial in meeting the growing demands for care:
Implementing Nurse Practitioners & Physician Assistants: Since 2012, the integration of NPs and PAs into hospital medicine teams has grown by 42%. Leveraging these providers offers a strategic approach to navigating the hospitalist shortage and managing increasing inpatient care demands.
Utilizing Locum Tenens Hospitalists: By incorporating locum tenens hospitalists into staffing strategies, healthcare leaders can bridge staffing gaps, maintain operational efficiency, and meet patient demands.
Incorporating a Proactive Staffing Plan: Having a staffing contingency plan in place is essential for mitigating risks and maintaining seamless operations in hospital medicine.
For an in-depth look at the future demands of hospital medicine and strategic approaches to ensure a stabilized hospitalist workforce, click here.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hospital Medicine:
How Many Active Hospitalists Are in the United States?
There are approximately 33,257 hospitalists in the U.S.
What Are the Key Challenges Facing the Hospitalist Workforce?
Challenges include an aging population, increasing patient volumes, physician burnout, and a limited pipeline of new providers.
What Percentage of Internal Medicine Residents Choose to Sub-Specialize?
In 2024, 87.6% of internal medicine residents subspecialized in fellowships.
