1. A physician who specializes in the care of hospitalized patients and works primarily within a hospital setting rather than in a private practice or outpatient clinic.
Usage: Modern medical term; increasingly common in U.S. healthcare systems since the 1990s.

Examples

• The hospitalist managed the patient's care during a three-week stay in the intensive care unit.
• Many hospitals now employ hospitalists to coordinate treatment for admitted patients.
• As a hospitalist, Dr. Chen focuses exclusively on patients who are currently hospitalized.
• The hospitalist consulted with the surgeon about the patient's post-operative recovery.
• Insurance companies often prefer hospitalists because they reduce hospital readmission rates.