The practice of hospital epidemiology.

The practice and methodology of hospital epidemiology in infection control have begun to mature. At the same time, there is need for an institutionally based clinical epidemiologist to assist in several other mandatory patient care-related programs in the hospital. Hospital epidemiology programs should recognize this need, the parallels in other programs, and the unique opportunity to bring to hospital in-service, teaching, and research, epidemiologic methodology as a natural extension of its present role.