The expanding role of hospitalists in the United States.

Hospitalists are the most rapidly growing group of providers in the United States; in a few years, there will be more hospitalists than cardiologists in the U.S. While early growth in the field was driven by financial demands on hospitals, more recent incentives include a growing focus on improving the quality and safety of care. With current evidence suggesting both financial and educational benefits from the increased presence of hospitalists in both teaching and non-teaching settings, the environment is ripe for further expansion. Hospitalists are likely to embrace a number of additional clinical and non-clinical roles in the coming years. They will serve as change agents, hospital leaders and experts in both quality improvement activities and research initiatives around improving inpatient care delivery. As their skills sets and unique competencies become more clearly outlined, the next step will likely be the development of an independent specialty with its own board certification.