Is this specialty only for private practice?

[sportsfan101]

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Hi,

I wanted to clarify: is family medicine usually practiced in private practice? Is it practiced in a hospital? Which is more common? Is family medicine practiced by "hospitalists" and what is the difference between family medical doctors and hospitalists? I tried doing research online, but have not found enough information to determine the answers.

Thanks.

(please don't quote)

 

[Vermicious Knid]

Hospitalists are typically internists (not always).

 

[michaelrack]

many family practices are owned by hospitals.

 

[pathologyDO]

Agreed. I would assume a majority of FMs work for hospitals rather than own a private practice. Most medical graduates are not adept with business work. Hospitals are therefor the easier route.

 

[PeachyOrange]

The wide range of patient cases they see really

 

[evilbooyaa]

Hi,

I wanted to clarify: is family medicine usually practiced in private practice? Is it practiced in a hospital? Which is more common? Is family medicine practiced by "hospitalists" and what is the difference between family medical doctors and hospitalists? I tried doing research online, but have not found enough information to determine the answers.

Thanks.

(please don't quote)

Why not?

Anyways, FM practices can definitely be owned by a hospital, especially with recent budget cuts that have made owning a family practice economically unfeasible in certain patient populations. Although it may be owned by a hospital (may or may not be more common than private practice), a majority of FM is outpatient services.

As stated above, hospitalists are (generally) internists, although I know of some family medicine residents who are going into jobs as hospitalists (or their night-time version, a nocturnist).

 

[J ROD]

FM docs usually practice in an outpatient setting where they may or may not be owned by the hospital. More and more are being owned by the hospital and the FM docs are employees of the hospital.

Hospitalists are usually IM docs but can be FM docs. They practice as their name suggests in the hospital and usually provide hospital coverage for FM docs patients so the FM docs dont have to come to the hospital.

Hospitalists usually have a 7on/7off schedule but that can vary greatly. Some also practice solely at night.