House physicians play a crucial role in the health and well-being of those living in hospitals and long-term healthcare facilities; they’re the ones who call the attending physician if a patient falls in the middle of the night and sustains a severe injury or when a patient with a long term hospital stay suddenly deteriorates.
While not as highly publicized as specialties like neurology or radiology, house physicians are champions for those they serve, providing prompt care when residents need it most. As they get to know their patients on a closer level, they can offer practical advice to patients, such as teaching them about the impact of stress on urinary tract infections, and they can be the first ones to advise an attending physician should something feel “off” about their patient.
It’s a highly rewarding role, and one that you might find is a perfect fit for your skillset and needs. Today, we’ll investigate all you need to know about becoming a house physician.
Firstly, Be Aware of the Different Definitions of House Physician
“House physician” means different things in different legal frameworks, and its usage varies across the United States; in some places, it’s a more generalist term, while in others, it has a clearly defined meaning.
For example, the Florida Board of Medicine defines a house physician as one with a limited scope of practice who must practice under the direct supervision of an MD or DO; they generally graduate from an Allopathic Medical School and are unlicensed. However, in Michigan, it means a physician in a residency or fellowship program with an unlimited license from the state.
As you start your house physician job search, but sure that you check the specific definitions of the state in which you would like to practice in order to ensure that you meet the specific guidelines of the state.
Utilized Specialized Job Boards to Your Advantage
While you may find job listings for a house physician on Indeed or ZipRecruiter, most house physician jobs are posted on specialized job boards for those in the medical field.
The larger, more well-known job boards are generalist sites that host positions from every industry, meaning that hospitals are more likely to receive irrelevant applications from those who have no qualifications to practice medicine rather than those who are motivated, educated, and familiar with the medical field.
There’s also the fact that job searches on Indeed for “house physician” will bring up a variety of roles that are irrelevant for you as well, such as front desk receptionists or midwives, simply because they mention house physicians in the listing.
Reach Out to Colleagues and Mentors
No one goes through medical school alone: you will have met many fellow students, instructors, and other staff who are highly connected to the medical field and may be aware of positions that are perfect for you. Your network can also give you helpful advice on what hospital systems to avoid, which doctors in your area are great to work with, and what the culture is at a given facility, which can help you avoid places that won’t be a good fit.
Be Proactive
Medical staff are a hot commodity everywhere: attrition has been high in the last few years due to the pandemic, and nearly every hospital system has staffing shortages. This means that you can take the chance and reach out to staff at a hospital system you’re interested in to discuss house physician roles, even if none are currently listed. It’s possible that their HR department hasn’t yet put together a listing, or there might be a physician planning to leave who hasn’t yet officially turned over the role.
It might be uncomfortable at first, but assertiveness and proactiveness are one of the most valuable traits in any medical professional. In the worst-case scenario, you are rejected as they’re not currently hiring, but this refusal is unlikely to impact your reputation in the medical field at large. As with most things, the worst thing they can do is say no.
Consider Seeking Opportunities Outside of Your Area
If you’re struggling to find any positions in your current area, relocation might be your best bet. There are plenty of opportunities all across the country, even if there are none nearby, and you may find an area with a lower cost of listing and better healthcare facilities than are available in your hometown. It can be difficult to manage paperwork and licensing requirements, but you can always discuss the logistics with the interviewer as well as review resources from the medical board in your potential area to learn more.
A house physician is the linchpin in any successful hospital system: they provide on-call care to those who need it the most and help to advocate for their patients. By utilizing professional resources like job boards and your network, and by being creative and assertive, you can net yourself the position of your dreams doing what you love: developing strong relationships with patients.
