RT Book, Section A1 Shah, Samir S. A1 Ronan, Jeanine C. A1 Catallozzi, Marina A1 Frank, Gary SR Print(0) ID 1185285101 T1 Preface T2 The Philadelphia Guide: Inpatient Pediatrics, 3e YR 2022 FD 2022 PB McGraw Hill PP New York, NY SN 9781260117882 LK accesspediatrics.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1185285101 RD 2024/10/08 AB The care of a hospitalized child has evolved dramatically since the publication of earlier editions of The Philadelphia Guide: Inpatient Pediatrics. As the first two editions were published, a common question was “What is a Hospitalist?” Hospital system pressures fueled by increasing patient complexity, changes in reimbursement models, and emphasis on value of care contributed to expansion of the hospitalist model. Hospital medicine is now the fastest growing specialty in modern history and the hospitalist model of care—a phrase coined a quarter century ago—is ensconced in virtually all hospitals. Furthermore, Pediatric Hospital Medicine is an official sub-specialty certified by the American Board of Pediatrics. Hospital Medicine has assumed even greater importance during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Hospitalists have been on the frontlines caring for patients suffering from this new and mysterious disease while simultaneously redesigning systems of care. For example, they led the development of new care algorithms to manage a rare but serious COVID-19 complication termed multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) and managed patient flow to accommodate the atypical seasonality of common viruses. (Who could have imagined hospital capacity issues in summer as a result of respiratory syncytial virus?) Hospitalists have also been at the forefront of public health, advocating for the wellbeing of children with efforts to resume safe schooling, increase rates of immunization against COVID-19, enforce masking policies to mitigate SARS-CoV transmission, expand mental health services, and reduce gun violence. The role of the hospitalist has fundamentally changed as these one-time generalists who became specialists have once again demonstrated their range. The question “What is a Hospitalist?” is being asked yet again but with different intent. Hospitalists provide clinical care, conduct practice-changing research, lead quality and safety efforts of hospital and its health system as well as community child advocacy efforts, improve health information systems, and so much more. They are a model speciality for innovation, collaboration, and patient-centered care.