Post job

Hospitalist vs emergency medicine physician

The differences between hospitalists and emergency medicine physicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a hospitalist, becoming an emergency medicine physician takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a hospitalist has an average salary of $214,817, which is higher than the $162,369 average annual salary of an emergency medicine physician.

The top three skills for a hospitalist include patients, EMR and acls. The most important skills for an emergency medicine physician are patients, medical care, and critical care.

Hospitalist vs emergency medicine physician overview

HospitalistEmergency Medicine Physician
Yearly salary$214,817$162,369
Hourly rate$103.28$78.06
Growth rate7%7%
Number of jobs29,54464,109
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeDoctoral Degree, 31%Doctoral Degree, 41%
Average age4848
Years of experience46

What does a hospitalist do?

A hospitalist, also known as a physician, is primarily responsible for diagnosing and treating patients' ailments or injuries, providing optimal care and service. They assess a patient's condition by running tests, interviews, and examinations, providing consultations, prescribing or administering medicines, coordinating with other health experts, and following up on patients' cases. A hospitalist may also study and update a patient's medical records, discuss conditions to patients and families, and implement the medical health and safety policies and regulations within the hospital.

What does an emergency medicine physician do?

An emergency medicine physician is responsible for performing immediate medical treatment for patients in critical condition and life-threatening cases. Emergency medicine physicians operate various medical tools and equipment to stabilize the patients, following the safety course of medical procedures. They work closely with other physicians and medical health professionals to diagnose patients' cases immediately, endorsing them to other hospitals or health care providers as necessary. An emergency medicine physician usually works in the emergency room of a hospital, requiring them to be attentive and organizational at all times.

Hospitalist vs emergency medicine physician salary

Hospitalists and emergency medicine physicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

HospitalistEmergency Medicine Physician
Average salary$214,817$162,369
Salary rangeBetween $140,000 And $329,000Between $77,000 And $340,000
Highest paying CityEau Claire, WIProvidence, RI
Highest paying stateAlaskaRhode Island
Best paying companyTrinity HealthUniversity of Southern Indiana
Best paying industryHealth CareHealth Care

Differences between hospitalist and emergency medicine physician education

There are a few differences between a hospitalist and an emergency medicine physician in terms of educational background:

HospitalistEmergency Medicine Physician
Most common degreeDoctoral Degree, 31%Doctoral Degree, 41%
Most common majorMedicineMedicine
Most common collegeDuke UniversityStanford University

Hospitalist vs emergency medicine physician demographics

Here are the differences between hospitalists' and emergency medicine physicians' demographics:

HospitalistEmergency Medicine Physician
Average age4848
Gender ratioMale, 44.5% Female, 55.5%Male, 60.3% Female, 39.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 5.2% Unknown, 2.8% Hispanic or Latino, 9.2% Asian, 18.1% White, 64.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%Black or African American, 5.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 9.8% Asian, 19.1% White, 61.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage10%13%

Differences between hospitalist and emergency medicine physician duties and responsibilities

Hospitalist example responsibilities.

  • Manage acute and chronic illnesses including cardiac, respiratory, GI, infectious and skin issues.
  • Provide acute care to infants, children and adolescents admit to the hospital, nursery and emergency room.
  • Work with full EMR system.
  • Calculate medications and TPN dosages.
  • Review and process NICU TPN orders
  • Place all nocturnal arterial lines for ICU.
  • Show more

Emergency medicine physician example responsibilities.

  • Lead surgeries on: hemorrhoid thrombectomy, abscess drainage, CPR, as well as complicated plastic surgeries due to injury.
  • Start IVs, draw blood, perform EKGs, administer joint and IM injections, and write admission orders.
  • Interpret labs, x-rays, CTs, MRIs, and ECGs.
  • Assist with management of acute cardiac arrest, including intubation and ACLS protocol.
  • Order and interpret lab data, radiologic exams, EKGs and diagnostic studies.
  • Perform therapeutic procedures, such as injections, immunizations, suturing, wind care, and infection management.
  • Show more

Hospitalist vs emergency medicine physician skills

Common hospitalist skills
  • Patients, 44%
  • EMR, 13%
  • Acls, 6%
  • Epic, 6%
  • Rehabilitation, 5%
  • Critical Care, 4%
Common emergency medicine physician skills
  • Patients, 27%
  • Medical Care, 16%
  • Critical Care, 16%
  • IM, 9%
  • Family Practice, 9%
  • Acls, 7%

Browse healthcare practitioner and technical jobs