Training and certification for hospital medicine programs support the essential role of hospitalists for complex multi-morbid patients in acute care

Abstract

The current COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in significant strain on acute care delivery in Canada and around the world. It has highlighted the importance of hospitals rapidly increasing their resources to meet the capacity demands brought on by a disruptive change. Hospital medicine teams have become central to many acute care sites, caring for increasingly complex hospitalized patients. We believe that the ongoing implementation of hospitalist teams of generalist physicians is critical in ensuring that health care organizations are well positioned to provide high-quality care in uncertain times. We also highlight the need for adequate training and certification for physicians who aim to work as part of such programs.