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Internist vs hospitalist

The differences between internists and hospitalists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become an internist, becoming a hospitalist takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an internist has an average salary of $223,415, which is higher than the $214,817 average annual salary of a hospitalist.

The top three skills for an internist include patients, primary care and EMR. The most important skills for a hospitalist are patients, EMR, and acls.

Internist vs hospitalist overview

InternistHospitalist
Yearly salary$223,415$214,817
Hourly rate$107.41$103.28
Growth rate7%7%
Number of jobs31,65929,544
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 35%Doctoral Degree, 31%
Average age4848
Years of experience64

What does an internist do?

An internist is a physician of internal medicine whose primary duty is to diagnose and treat different illnesses and injuries. Their responsibilities revolve around conducting initial assessment and examination, reviewing medical records and histories, providing consultations, prescribing medicines, and coordinating with different health care workers to ensure optimal care and service to patients. Moreover, it is essential to discuss and explain conditions to patients or their families, monitor their condition, provide health care advice, and refer them to any specialists or support services as needed.

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.

Internist vs hospitalist salary

Internists and hospitalists have different pay scales, as shown below.

InternistHospitalist
Average salary$223,415$214,817
Salary rangeBetween $120,000 And $415,000Between $140,000 And $329,000
Highest paying CitySpringfield, OHEau Claire, WI
Highest paying stateAlaskaAlaska
Best paying companyCentral Ohio Primary CareTrinity Health
Best paying industryHealth CareHealth Care

Differences between internist and hospitalist education

There are a few differences between an internist and a hospitalist in terms of educational background:

InternistHospitalist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 35%Doctoral Degree, 31%
Most common majorMedicineMedicine
Most common collegeUniversity of VirginiaDuke University

Internist vs hospitalist demographics

Here are the differences between internists' and hospitalists' demographics:

InternistHospitalist
Average age4848
Gender ratioMale, 37.3% Female, 62.7%Male, 44.5% Female, 55.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 5.3% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 10.0% Asian, 19.0% White, 61.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Black 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%
LGBT Percentage13%10%

Differences between internist and hospitalist duties and responsibilities

Internist example responsibilities.

  • Train and manage new interns/ volunteers assisting with the evidence-based hypertension management program.
  • Implement EMR solely in a huge practice.
  • Evaluate health education needs of patients and provide necessary training and instruction.
  • Provide overall quality prenatal health care, gynecological services, patient triage, refer patients with complications, provide patient education service
  • Perform uncomplicated surgical extractions, bone grafting and suturing as needed independently.
  • Provide physiotherapy, rehabilitation and chiropractic treatment for various conditions and injuries.
  • Show more

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

Internist vs hospitalist skills

Common internist skills
  • Patients, 30%
  • Primary Care, 13%
  • EMR, 7%
  • Critical Care, 6%
  • Private Practice, 6%
  • Rehabilitation, 5%
Common hospitalist skills
  • Patients, 44%
  • EMR, 13%
  • Acls, 6%
  • Epic, 6%
  • Rehabilitation, 5%
  • Critical Care, 4%

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