Physician - Observationist
Compensation
Pay not disclosed
Listing transparency2 of 6 stated
Ask the employer about the pay range, the work setting and weekend coverage.
- Employment & setting
- Full-Time
- Call expectations
- Includes call
- Weekends
- Not specified
Job Description
We are seeking a dedicated Observation Medicine Physician (also known as an
Observationist) to join our growing Hospital Medicine team. This is an excellent
opportunity for a board-certified or board-eligible Internal Medicine or Family
Medicine physician who enjoys high-quality, protocol-driven care for short-stay
patients in a dedicated Observation Unit.
In this role, you will manage adult patients requiring observation status —
typically 24–48 hours of evaluation and treatment — avoiding unnecessary full
inpatient admissions while ensuring safe and efficient dispositions. Our
Observation Unit features a closed-unit model with dedicated nursing and support
staff, allowing for focused, high-throughput care.
Key Responsibilities
* Provide comprehensive evaluation, management, and disposition for patients in
the Observation Unit
* Develop and follow evidence-based clinical protocols for common observation
diagnoses (chest pain, syncope, heart failure exacerbation, COPD/asthma,
cellulitis, etc.)
* Collaborate closely with Emergency Medicine, Hospitalists, specialists, and
case management to optimize length of stay and patient flow
* Perform histories and physicals, order and interpret diagnostic tests, and
coordinate multidisciplinary care
* Participate in quality improvement initiatives, utilization review, and
protocol development
* Maintain excellent documentation and communication with patients, families,
and the care team
* [Optional] Opportunity for unit leadership/medical director duties for
experienced candidates
Qualifications
* Board Certified or Board Eligible in Internal Medicine or Family Medicine
* Current, unrestricted Maryland medical license (or eligibility to obtain)
* DEA license and ACLS certification required
* Strong clinical skills in adult inpatient/acute care medicine
* Experience in hospital medicine or observation medicine is preferred, but we
welcome strong new graduates and early-career hospitalists
* Excellent communication and teamwork skills
* Passion for efficient, patient-centered care and reducing unnecessary
hospitalizations
Qualifications
- Education
- Professional certificate or licensure
Certifications
Key Skills
Hospital Medicine — Physician Career Context
Of the 40 active Hospital Medicine listings this role was benchmarked against, 5% are remote, 60% have no call, 30% require no weekends.
Hospital Medicine pay on WeekdayDoc is up 5.3% vs. the prior quarter (through Aug 2026).
The cost-of-living index for Maryland is 105.0 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 62.9% of Maryland clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).
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