To become a hospitalist physician, you’ll need to complete several degree programs, which could take up to ten years. The most common degree focuses for people entering this profession are an undergraduate degree in a premedical discipline and a medical degree in internal medicine. Before you can become a hospitalist physician, you must complete residency and fellowship programs in addition to your education. The responsibilities of this position are very similar to those of other physicians, with the exception that you only work in hospitals. Due to the high level of competition for medical school admission, you will need an excellent academic record during your undergraduate studies to be accepted.
Although many schools do not offer a premedical studies degree, you can pursue a related major that places a strong emphasis on natural sciences. Organic chemistry, biochemistry, and genetics should all be included in your coursework. You might want to look for part-time work or internships in the medical field during your undergraduate studies. The majority of your coursework will prepare you for the medical entrance exam, and field experience will aid you in advanced medical courses. You should also inquire about preparatory courses and practice exams for the medical school admissions test from your school.
You’ll want to choose a degree program that will help you become a hospitalist physician after you’ve been accepted into medical school. Academics typically take up the first two years of medical school, while clinical fieldwork takes up the final two years. These courses are designed to help you prepare for a residency program that will allow you to work as a hospitalist physician. Most places will require you to complete at least a three-year residency after graduation, which is usually based on your area of expertise. Because you need to be trained in a general medicine field to perform various services throughout the different sections of a hospital, internal medicine is the most common program for this career.
To become a hospitalist physician, most jurisdictions will require that you be licensed to practice medicine in that specific area and that you pass a licensing exam. Hospital work hours are very different from private practice hours, and you’ll almost certainly need to be able to work a flexible schedule. You should apply for positions at local hospitals and keep checking hospital employment websites to find work in this field.