The Humans in Hospitalists
From admission to discharge, and transfers in and out,
We are the captain of the ship.
We aim to guide our patients through their hospitalized journey.
With the goal of safe healthcare delivery; without a blip.
When we meet our patients, night or day,
We connect with our fellow humans to allay their fears.
While getting to know our patients’ biggest concerns,
Through compassion, we hope to turn their fears into joyful tears!
We juggle and balance, all our patients’ needs.
Diet orders or NPO, med adjustments, and more.
Leading family discussions and obtaining consultant recommendations.
Through interdisciplinary rounding, we make sure that everything is
accounted for.
As scientists and educators, even master detectives,
We analyze every detail of every test, lab, and finding on exams.
Identifying the puzzles in place and figuring out diagnostic dilemmas.
All the while educating our students, colleagues, and patients; often with
elaborate diagrams.
Through caring for the majority of patients who are admitted,
We know the ‘ins and outs’ of a hospital.
From patient flow to patient safety and more,
We work diligently to improve our patient’s experience; the goal is
optimal.
From frontline clinicians to administrators, from educators to researchers,
We wear many hats as hospitalists in the field.
From physician advisors to quality and patient safety advocates
There are so many aspects to the patient-centered care we wield.
Through our work, we care for those who need us most,
But we must remember, we are humans who need to be cared for too!
Our wellness lies in the other non-work aspects that make us whole.
With our wellness, we will remain successful captains of the ship; guiding
our patients through.
2024 National Hospitalist Day Contest Submission
Dr. Parikh is an associate professor of medicine, interim chief of hospitalist medicine, assistant dean and director of transformation and integration, and vice chair of quality and safety for the department of medicine at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick, N.J. She earned her Black Belt in Lean Six Sigma from Rutgers and was inducted into in the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society and Gold Humanism Honor Society. Dr. Parikh serves as the co-chair for the Rutgers Health Graduate Medical Education Subcommittee on Quality and Safety, and chairs SHM’s Quality Improvement Special Interest Group.