In pediatric hospital medicine, we often find ourselves treating children whose health outcomes are influenced by factors far beyond the walls of the hospital. Social determinants of health (SDOH)—such as food insecurity, inadequate housing, and lack of access to care—are frequently the underlying causes of illness and poor outcomes. While we provide essential care during a child’s hospital stay, these root causes remain unaddressed unless we, as pediatric hospitalists, engage in broader advocacy efforts.
Historically, pediatricians have been leaders in advocating for public health. From seat belt laws to immunization campaigns, our profession has consistently used its voice to enact positive change. However, while we are strong advocates within clinical settings, we often hesitate to extend this influence to the policy arena, where decisions about healthcare funding, public health infrastructure, and social services are made.
Yet, as pediatric hospitalists, we are uniquely positioned to advocate for changes that can improve the health and well-being of children on a larger scale. Advocacy is not an optional part of our work, it is essential to our mission of delivering high-quality care. We see firsthand how SDOH negatively impact our patients, and we have the clinical expertise to inform policies that address these issues. The time is now for pediatric hospitalists to step up and engage in advocacy efforts that go beyond individual patient care.
One area where I have seen the power of advocacy is in addressing food insecurity, a critical issue affecting many of the children we serve. As co-leader of Project Elephant, which addresses food insecurity in pediatric hospital care, I helped implement a screening process to identify families in need of food assistance. By providing shelf-stable food boxes and connecting families to local resources, we addressed not just the immediate clinical needs of our patients, but also one of the root causes of their poor health. This project highlighted how hospitalists can make a tangible difference by addressing SDOH through advocacy and community collaboration.
But advocacy should not stop at the hospital door. Pediatric hospitalists must also engage in legislative advocacy. By working with local and national policymakers, we can help shape the policies that affect our patients. In my own experience participating in virtual Hill visits and advocating for policies that promote children’s health, I have seen the impact that our voices can have. Policymakers rely on healthcare professionals to provide insights into the real-world implications of legislation, and pediatric hospitalists can bring invaluable perspectives to these discussions.
Moreover, advocacy is not a solo endeavor. It requires collaboration across disciplines and sectors. Pediatric hospitalists can partner with outpatient providers, social workers, community organizations, and public health officials to create systems of care that address both medical and social needs of our patients. The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the importance of this kind of collaboration, showing us that effective healthcare requires coordination at all levels—from hospital care to public health infrastructure.
As pediatric hospitalists, we also have a responsibility to advocate not just for our patients, but also for our field and our profession. The recognition of pediatric hospital medicine as a subspecialty has been a significant achievement, but it has also raised questions about inclusivity, particularly for those who may not qualify for board certification through traditional pathways. Advocacy within our profession is essential to ensure that all pediatric hospitalists, regardless of their certification status, have access to ongoing education, training, and professional development opportunities.
In the coming years, I believe pediatric hospitalists will play an even greater role in shaping the future of healthcare for children. As healthcare systems continue to evolve, we must advocate for policies that support not only the clinical care we provide but also the broader social and environmental factors that influence child health. By stepping into this advocacy role, we can extend our impact far beyond the bedside.
Advocacy is not an optional aspect of pediatric hospital medicine—it is integral to our role as physicians. By advocating for policies and practices that address the root causes of poor health, we can ensure that the care we provide in the hospital is connected to broader efforts to improve health outcomes for all children. The time is now for pediatric hospitalists to embrace advocacy as a core part of our mission, both in the hospital and in the communities we serve.
Dr. Tran
Dr. Tran is an assistant professor of clinical pediatrics at the University of Illinois College of Medicine, and a pediatric hospitalist at the Children’s Hospital of Illinois, both in Peoria, Ill. She is also the pediatric editor for The Hospitalist and a deputy editor of digital media for the Journal of Hospital Medicine.