What is a Hospitalist? The Society of Hospital Medicine has adopted the following official definition of “hospitalist.” Hospitalists are physicians whose primary professional focus is the general medical care of hospitalized patients. Why do you need a Hospitalist program? Hospitalists have the ability to improve the overall quality of care, patient safety and patient flow of your hospital. Why do your patients need Hospitalists? Hospitalists provide the link between primary care physicians (PCPs) and hospitalized patients, as well as a system for managing and improving the level of inpatient care.