The hospitalist practice model is attractive to many internists. In our organization, they work 7 days on and 7 days off with 12 hour shifts and take no call. They are salaried employees. However, the turnover is incredible. Also, the patient satisfaction is less than optimum. Before my mother died, she was admitted to our largest hospital and asked me to discuss her care with her. While her care was technically fine, she didn't like the endless number of hospitalists and advanced practice nurses sent in to see her. She became particularly disturbed when a nurse practitioner she had never met before told her she needed to go to a nursing home. At that point, she asked me to find her an internist and I went to a competing organization in town to get her one.
our hospitalist group is salaried as well. WE do not have a set number of days on/off but the schedule varies. We do not employ physician extenders, and try to work it so the pts have one or at most 2 hospitalists responsible for their care during their stay.
Our patient satisfaction is actually very high and I think the hospitalist movement has improved care significantly. Im sorry you had a bad experience. Im glad you were able to find an outpatient internist, that is getting to be a rare breed. MOst of my hospitalist group is like me - about 50ish, and joining a hospital practice after 20 years in primary care because the lifestyle is no longer sustainable.