As patient safety takes center stage at most hospitals across the nation, many organizations are turning to experienced physicians to act as in-house attending physicians during overnight shifts, according to the Boston Globe.
These overnighters, generally known as nocturnists or nocturnalists when they work the shift as a career choice, act as an extra safety measure for physicians-in-training who usually are left alone during the wee hours of the night. With a nocturnist on staff, residents can get in-person help and avoid calling a sleeping attending at home at 2 a.m.
"It makes sense to have somebody in the building," John Nelson, MD, cofounder of the Society of Hospital Medicine, told the Globe.
There are some recognized cons to having a nocturnist program. When an on-site physician isn't available, it can help residents grow professionally, for instance. Another issue is the cost.
"Physicians are more expensive than trainees," Vincent Chiang, MD, chief of the hospitalist program at Boston Children's Hospital, told the Globe. "And you need higher incentives to get people to sign up."
Despite the drawbacks, several physicians and hospitals recognize the benefits. Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston has 30 nocturnists, South Shore Hospital in Weymouth is looking for a fifth, and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Boston Medical Center also staff physicians overnight. Boston Children's has had a nocturnist program for three years, according to the Globe.
"When you have a big complicated issue, it's better to have someone who can navigate it and think about whether there is a better option," Sarah Henry, MD, chief nocturnist at Boston Children's, said, according to the paper.