Redefining the community pediatric hospitalist: the combined pediatric ED/inpatient unit.

Background: The use of pediatric hospitalists in community hospitals has increased over the past decade in response to the desire to provide high-quality pediatric care. Many hospitals are challenged to create financially independent and productive programs.

Objective: To evaluate an alternative approach to traditional community hospital pediatric care of having pediatricians work in a combined pediatric Emergency Department (PED)/inpatient unit.