Hi,
I'm looking to get more information about hospitalist 7on/7off positions. Any help would be appreciated.

Detailed information such as position availability, tasks that they do, call schedules, lifestyle, pay, etc is the type of information I'm trying to get. I'm looking for something that will be interesting, keep me thinking on my feet and offers a challenge.

Specifically any positions in Texas (Dallas or surrounding areas or any suburb/community hospital).

I've been Googling, but a central base of information is sort of what I'm looking for. Sorry if this post comes off as unfocused, as an IM prospective this is one of the areas I'm really thinking about going into.

this is going to be difficult to answer because the lifestyle and details of the job vary greatly from hospitalist to hospitalist position.

Check out the society of hospital medicine. Hospitalist positions are very plentiful, and pay well. Lifestyle varies dramatically. Some people work 7 on 7 off. Some work 9-5. Some rotate shifts. Some work only nights. As far as tasks, they vary as well. Many hospitalists will admit for surgeons and other specialists, as well as medical patients. Pathology can vary dramatically. Some hospitalists are even specializing in procedures- PICCS, LP's, paracentesis, thoracentesis, etc.

If you like your ward months, you might like being a hospitalist.

people specialize in doing procedures like paracenteses? I did a few with barely any supervision in the ICU as a MS4.

the hospital I'm at has a PICC team and I've heard of procedure teams, but I thought it consisted of residents/nurses?

people specialize in doing procedures like paracenteses? I did a few with barely any supervision in the ICU as a MS4.

the hospital I'm at has a PICC team and I've heard of procedure teams, but I thought it consisted of residents/nurses?

in academics, but there are no residents in the private or "real" world.

What is the typical length of a shift during the "7on" days?

Thanks for the information everyone.

Annette: the SHM website was very helpful. Thanks.

Is $160-180k plus/minus production for 7on/7off the average pay for these sort of positions? At academic centers as an attending would there be some research opportunities?

What is a hospitalist doing on his 7 days off? I guess at an academic hospital he might be a researcher, but what about at a smaller hospital? Is it outpatient work? Vacation? (6 months of vacation a year and you make ~150K, sign me up :thumbup:)

During those 7 days off you are off, you essentially have 28 weeks off/ year, you have to remember though, the week that you work you basically put in 84hrs/week.
The pay and work schedule in private practice varies by location, positions are plentiful, as there is a large shortage of hospitalist, If you are really interested in a specific area, I would look at the hospitals, and contact them directly. Most hospitalist programs are looking for additional people all the time. You will also have more room to negotiate if you call directly rather than utilizing an agency, check it out this link for more hospitalist information:

http://www.nejmjobs.org/career-resources/hospitalists-fast-track.aspx

Good luck in your search

I've seen compensation range from 140's to over 300K. Alot is determined by where you are. I think the national average is 170. The people making in the 300 range are likely on production/ bonuses/ additional tasks.

I'm on a 7on/7 off schedule, but I am contractually obligated to work one night a month, but end up working 3. My day starts at 8, and theoretically I'm done at 5. I'm slower than most of of the other hospitalists, so I don't usually finish until 6 or so. The group likes to keep the patient load to 10-15 pts, but lately I've had up to 20. I also get 4 weeks of vacation/CME a year. This varies from program to program. Some have no time off, some work M-F with rotating weekend call. There are also physican owned groups and employeed models.

You can do research in almost any of the settings. You can teach or not.

There is a shortage of hospitalists. Some estimate 2-4 jobs for every person.

Don't let the 7on/7off schedule fool you. Depending on where you work, this can be relatively easy or exceptionally difficult. I worked as a hospitalist for one year prior to fellowship and it was harder then even my intern year. Be sure to probe in exquisite detail your responsibilities, particularly patient loads.

Yes, also if there is an intensivist. One critical care patient can eat up a large portion of your day.

What is the typical length of a shift during the "7on" days?

8-12 hours. some are 8 or 9 am to 5 pm, some are 7 am to 7 pm.


What is a hospitalist doing on his 7 days off? I guess at an academic hospital he might be a researcher, but what about at a smaller hospital? Is it outpatient work? Vacation? (6 months of vacation a year and you make ~150K, sign me up :thumbup:)


depends on the contract you sign, group politics, hospital(s) politics, etc.. some might have a non-compete clause, meaning you can't work as a physician with any other group. some may have other opportunities for you in that week off. you might want to pursue other interests, chill out and relax, or a combination of everything (extra work, chilling, travelling).

just make sure to ask lots of questions during your search. hopefully during residency, you've seen the things that you know that make you happy, the stuff you know pisses you off... things you can live with, things you can't live without in a way. this may give you a good sense of what opportunities may fit you, and which ones won't.

Yes, also if there is an intensivist. One critical care patient can eat up a large portion of your day.

Agreed. Some hospitalist programs expected me to admit and intubate all ICU patients when on service, a difficult proposition considering I hadn't done any intubations in my residency.

Agreed. Some hospitalist programs expected me to admit and intubate all ICU patients when on service, a difficult proposition considering I hadn't done any intubations in my residency.


Wow, how did you go 3 years without getting any intubations? Was this at a large academic center?

It was at UCSD. There was 24 hr anesthesia coverage and the culture was to always call them for all intubations. Made no sense to me and was a silly idea, but I could never find any attending willing to watch me intubate during those three years.

I'm sorry to hear that Homer, I don't have that issue with intubations, but getting medicine attending to precept paracentesis are hard at my own program. But at least with that procedure I can get radiology to let me do their work for them

For those who have worked or are currently working as hospitalists --
Do you have nocturnalists in your practice?
How large is the practice?
What are your weeks off like? Do you still have to come in for meetings, etc?
Are you working on salary + production or production alone?

I'm planning on working as a hospitalist when I finish residency and would like to know more about practice models out there. Thanks.

For those who have worked or are currently working as hospitalists --
Do you have nocturnalists in your practice?
How large is the practice?
What are your weeks off like? Do you still have to come in for meetings, etc?
Are you working on salary + production or production alone?

I'm planning on working as a hospitalist when I finish residency and would like to know more about practice models out there. Thanks.

The models out there vary greatly and by geography. I worked at a Kaiser hospital in California, which is a large HMO out west (in case you hadn't heard of it). Salary based with different types of hospitalists; you could chose to only round, only admit, or nocturnal work only as well. Practice was quite large, although partnership was essenially guaranteed after meeting time requirements. Weeks off were very nice, puncutated with several meetings that I was paid for. Weeks on were very difficult, even though I had housestaff. Even though compensation was salary based, there were financial incentives for working extra shifts or doing more than the expected workload each week.

I also took a look at several private groups as well. The ones I interviewed at seemed to have lots of income potential, although they worked very hard and lots of it had to do with how saavy you were with billing. Work division between older and newer partners was never really clear (or equitable) and that tunred me off. No nocturnalists except in the large private groups and they were desparate for more warm bodies to take night call.

How does your day feel like?

Is it too much?

Do you feel burnout?

For those who have worked or are currently working as hospitalists --
Do you have nocturnalists in your practice?
How large is the practice?
What are your weeks off like? Do you still have to come in for meetings, etc?
Are you working on salary + production or production alone?

I'm planning on working as a hospitalist when I finish residency and would like to know more about practice models out there. Thanks.

Cool new term, can't wait to use it at the hospital and have people ask me what a "nocturnalist" is . . . hehe

Cool new term, can't wait to use it at the hospital and have people ask me what a "nocturnalist" is . . . hehe

Awesome, I'm definitely using that that next time someone asks me what specialty I want to go into :laugh: