The role of the hospitalists in the workforce to address the shortages of intensivists in hospitals here in Thailand

Abstract

The problem of a shortage of intensivists in Thailand is increasing annually. As stated in The Thai Society of Critical Care Medicine Database, 2013, the number of qualified intensivists currently is 163, working in 76 provinces in Thailand. This disproportion in the ratio of intensivists has affected patient outcomes. In an attempt to solve this problem, there has been an increased number of hospitalists working in place of the intensivists. Medical specialties are not available in many hospitals of Thailand. Thus, the hospitalists, who care for Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients, are not trained to care for the acutely ill, hospitalized patients. Their competencies vary depending on their experience and training. In other countries, there has been evidence that properly trained hospitalists can work effectively in the ICU. This awareness of the importance of intensivists in Thailand is one of the stifling factors; the improvement of the hospitalists, determining the hospitalists' workforce and increasing the number of the intensivists to match future demands are needed.