Hospitalists Career Satisfaction Survey

Dr. Joseph Galdun brings an extensive background in cardiology and internal medicine to his position as medical director of hospital medicine for the Fayette Regional Health System. Since completing his chief residency at Indiana University’s Methodist Hospital, Dr. Joseph Galdun has spent nearly two decades providing high-quality health care as a hospitalist, or practitioner of hospital medicine.

Hospital medicine is one of the fastest-growing subspecialties in medicine, with some of the most satisfied practitioners, according to the 2017 Compensation and Career Survey completed by the online publication Today’s Hospitalist.

Over 55 percent of survey participants felt extremely or very satisfied with their career, with the most satisfied hospitalists working in hospitalist management companies, primary care, and medical school settings.

The most commonly cited benefits of being a hospitalist include meaningful work, flexible work schedules, reasonable patient loads, and autonomy. Moreover, overall job satisfaction increases with experience: 59 percent of hospitalists with a decade or more of experience reported they were highly satisfied with their work.

Defining Post-acute Care

A former cardiology night hospitalist for Indiana’s St. Vincent Medical Group, Dr. Joseph Galdun oversees several committees in his role as the medical director of hospital medicine at Fayette Regional Health System. Dr. Joseph Galdun also serves as a hospitalist on the OPYS Physician Services team, a hospital-based group that specializes in hospital medicine and post-acute care.

After being admitted and treated at the hospital, patients who require ongoing medical services may be transferred to internal or external post-acute care providers. Post-acute care can include physical and occupational rehabilitation, skilled nursing care, pain management, and monitoring.

Post-acute care facilities reduce the likelihood of rehospitalization due to complications and improve patient outcomes. Depending on the severity of a patient’s condition, post-acute care can be provided at an inpatient facility, at outpatient clinics, or in the patient’s own home.

In 2015, the average duration of a stay in post-acute care was just over 25 days. Due to their home-like interiors and qualified care specialists, post-acute care inpatient facilities are a favorable and cost-effective alternative to a long-term hospital stay.

Increasing Pathways to Hospital Medicine for Residents

After spending nearly two decades as a cardiology night hospitalist at St. Vincent’s Medical Group, Dr. Joseph Galdun joined Fayette Regional Health System as the director of its hospitalist program. Before becoming a hospitalist, Dr. Joseph Galdun completed his residency in internal medicine at the Indiana University School of Medicine.

Residents may elect to become hospitalists due to an interest in hospital medicine or a host of other factors, including location preference and family circumstances. While hospitalist positions attract thousands of residents every year, not all programs offer specific pathways for hospital medicine. Additionally, there are no set criteria for what types of experiences these hospitalist-focused programs must offer.

To set a standard for hospitalist training programs, the Society of Hospital Medicine is working alongside academic physicians to create an online database where hospitalist programs from around the country can list their electives. Set to launch in 2019, the database will enable institutions seeking to start their own programs to get an overview of how established programs are structured.

ISMA Societies

An alumnus of the Indiana University School of Medicine, Joseph Galdun, MD, has led as the medical director of hospital medicine for Fayette Regional Health System in Connersville, Indiana, since 2017. An active member of the larger medical field, Dr. Joseph Galdun belongs to professional groups such as the Indiana State Medical Association (ISMA).

Comprised of district and county medical groups from across Indiana, ISMA has been supporting the Indiana medical community since 1849. Today, ISMA serves more than 8,200 members through continuing medical education (CME) programs, networking and professional development events, community outreach, and legislative advocacy. The association also maintains several member societies dedicated to supporting the next generation of Indiana physicians:

– Medical Student Society. Open to all medical students in Indiana, the Medical Student Society both advocates for the rights of medical students and provides resources for medical students as they complete their degrees.

– Resident/Fellow Society. Since 1984, the Resident/Fellow Society has offered mutual support for residents and fellows completing their postdoctoral training.

– Young Physician Society. Founded in 1995, this society supports new physicians in their professional endeavors through entrepreneurial support, legislative advocacy, and guidance and support for early-stage practices.