Patient encounters per shift: Which hospitalists have the highest volume?

Key takeaways:

In this article, we look at patient volume for hospitalists by the following factors:

• Adult hospitalists vs. pediatric hospitalists
• Academic vs. nonacademic hospitalists
• Types of employers
• Geographic regions

WHICH HOSPITALISTS HAVE the most—and least—number of patient encounters per shift?

According to data from the 2024 Today’s Hospitalist Compensation & Career Survey, hospitalists as a whole have an average of 16.3 patient encounters per shift. Looking back at previous surveys, that number hasn’t changed significantly.

In 2022, for example, our survey found that hospitalists on average have a patient volume of 16.6 patient encounters per shift. That means that our most recent data show a drop of about 2% in hospitalists’ number of encounters.

But patient volume for hospitalists shows a fair amount of variation by different groups of physicians. Hospitalists who treat adults, for example, report a higher average number of patient encounters per shift (16.5), while pediatric hospitalists report a lower number (14.0). Nonacademic hospitalists also trend higher when it comes to patient encounters (16.8), while academic hospitalists come in lower (15.7).

Interested in learning more on how patient volume affects satisfaction? Read How does patient encounters per shift affect hospitalist pay (and satisfaction)?.

Here are other differences we found in our survey data on how many patient encounters per shift hospitalists have.

Patient volume and employer type

Hospitalists working for national hospitalist management companies have generally reported the highest number of patient encounters per shift. While our survey data found that that’s still true, hospitalists at local hospitalist groups reported the same (high) number of patient encounters per shift:17.9.

Here’s a look at how many patient encounters per shift hospitalists reported by employer:

• Hospital/hospital corporation: 16.4
• Local hospitalist group: 17.9
• Multispecialty/primary care practices: 15.8
• National hospitalist mgmt. company: 17.9
• University/medical school: 14.9

Patient volume and geographic location

Patient volume shows significant variation by where in the country hospitalists work. Hospitalists in the Pacific region reported the fewest patient encounters per shift (13.6), while hospitalists in the South reported the most (18.0).

Here’s a look at how many patient encounters per shift hospitalists have by region:

• Northeast: 16.2
• South: 18.0
• Midwest: 16.0
• Mountain: 14.3
• Southwest: 17.9
• Pacific: 13.6

Patient volume and shift type

Hospitalists working seven-on/seven-on, which is the most common schedule, reported an average of 17 patient encounters per shift. For hospitalists working another type of day shift, the number was lower: 15.7.

Nocturnists reported the lowest volume of patient encounters per shift: 9.5.

Patient volume and hospitalist career satisfaction

Our survey data found that as patient volumes rise, so do levels of career dissatisfaction. Hospitalists who reported being dissatisfied, for example, also reported having 17.9 patient encounters per shift. Hospitalists who say they’re very satisfied or satisfied, by comparison, reported having closer to 16 patient encounters per shift.

For more data on how physician compensation is affected by bonuses, experience, shift work and location, check out our overview on hospitalist pay.