Hospital Medicine
Josiah Halm, M.D.
Department Chair
- Departments, Labs and Institutes
- Departments and Divisions
- Hospital Medicine
The Hospital Medicine department operates 24/7/365 days a year, promoting and maintaining patients' health throughout the entire institution. It supports the inpatient hospitalist programs across the care continuum.
The department is a multidisciplinary inpatient team comprised of M.D.s, APRNs, PharmDs and trainees who specialize managing complex hospitalized patients who require a higher level of expertise of coordination.
The department largely serves the solid tumor services, including:
- Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology
- Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology
- Endocrine Neoplasia and Hormonal Disorders
- Dermatology
- Breast Medical Oncology
- New patients with suspected cancer
- Radiation-only patients
- Complicated medical patients from surgical services
The department continues to expand clinical operation and will acquire two additional solid tumor services -- Gynecologic Oncology and Sarcoma Medical Oncology -- on September 1, 2024.
Collaborative approach
Our onco-hospitalists work collaboratively with other departments and specialists at MD Anderson to provide holistic care for our hospitalized patients.
Hospital Medicine plays a crucial role in delivering high-quality, patient-centered care to individuals undergoing cancer treatment, focusing on the unique needs and challenges of this patient population.
Onco-hospitalists:
- Offer 24/7 in-hospital coverage to ensure continuous and immediate care.
- Specialize in managing complex cases that require a high level of expertise and coordination.
- Implement evidence-based practices to improve patient outcomes and safety.
- Manage acute medical conditions and complications related to cancer and its treatment.
- Coordinate multidisciplinary care involving oncologists, surgeons, radiologists and other specialists.
Programs and initiatives
Clinical programs
- Geographic Rounding Initiative
- Illness Severity, Patient Summary, Action List, Situation Awareness, Synthesis by receiver (I-PASS) Handoff Initiative
- Goals of Care
- Observation (short stays)End-of-Life Care
- Medication Reconciliation Initiatives: Hospital Medicine and Institution
- Institutional Taskforce on COVID Care
- Ultrasound in clinical care and education
- High Length of Stay
Outcomes Research, Comorbidity and Supportive Care in Cancer and Research Collaborations
- Cancer hospitalization outcomes
- Optimizing transitions in care
- Treatment and Immune-related toxicities
- Comorbidity Management
- Risk score development for hospital readmissions
- Multiple collaborative studies with other departments and researchers among COVID patients:
- Convalescent plasma
- Anakinra (IL-1 receptor antagonist)
- Tocilizumab (anti-IL-6 monoclonal)
- Validation of COVID 19 risk scores in Oncology
- Convalescent plasma
Quality and safety
- Improving safety and quality of care for hospitalized patients
- Developing specific quality improvement initiatives
- Development of metrics/dashboard to track key metrics
- Venous thromboembolism (VTE)Patient experience – Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers & Systems Survey (HCAHPS)
- Utilizing the Safety Culture Survey to drill down to inform areas of improvement
- Clinical Safety and Effectiveness participation and certification
- Glycemic controlImproving discharge time and handoffs
- Readmissions
Education
Onco-Hospitalist Fellowship
The fellowship is an academic training program focused on developing the skills necessary for a successful career as an academic oncology hospitalist. This is a one-year program of clinical and research training, with the possibility to extend for a second year of research.
The fellows are expected to spend the majority of their time developing clinical and research experience that will enhance their academic careers.
Onco-hospitalist fellows rotate through the hospitalist service, inpatient oncology, palliative/supportive care, and inpatient subspecialties. Fellows are encouraged to pursue coursework in research methodology, according to his/her research needs during the fellowship.
Hospital Medicine also provides continuous professional development for our faculty and advanced practice providers to keep up with the latest advancements in managing hospitalized oncology patients with complications.
Additional efforts in this area includes:
- Inpatient rotation for MD Anderson-Baylor residency Program and University of Texas resident evening swing shift rotation
Contact Information
T. Boone Pickens Academic Tower
1400 Pressler St., Houston, TX 77030
Suite 13.5000
Phone: 713-745-4516
Fax: 713-563-4491
Onco-Hospitalist Fellowship
This one- to two-year training program is focused on developing the skills necessary for a successful career as an Academic Oncology Hospitalist.