PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF HOSPITAL MEDICINE: A Comprehensive Clinical Reference for Hospitalists • Internists • Residents • Advanced Practice Providers

In the crowded, high-stakes landscape of modern inpatient care, clinicians need more than textbook knowledge — they need a trusted partner at the bedside. Principles and Practice of Hospital Medicine delivers exactly that: a comprehensive, rigorously researched, and eminently practical guide written for the physicians, residents, nurse practitioners, and clinical educators who carry the weight of hospital-based medicine every single day.Across twenty meticulously structured chapters, this book takes the reader on a full-spectrum journey through the science and art of hospital medicine — from the moment a patient crosses the threshold of admission to the carefully coordinated process of safe discharge and community transition. Each chapter is built on a foundation of current evidence, clinical guidelines from bodies such as the Society of Hospital Medicine (SHM), the American College of Physicians (ACP), and the Surviving Sepsis Campaign, and time-tested bedside wisdom drawn from real-world clinical practice.The opening chapters establish the intellectual and operational framework of modern hospital medicine: understanding the role of the hospitalist, mastering the principles of patient safety and quality improvement, and navigating the complex ethical, legal, and communication demands of inpatient care. These chapters do not merely define the field — they challenge the reader to think more deeply about what excellent hospital medicine looks like, and how it is achieved.The clinical core of the book — spanning internal medicine, cardiology, pulmonology, nephrology, gastroenterology, infectious disease, neurology, endocrinology, hematology, and rheumatology — is presented with extraordinary clarity. Conditions are organized by organ system, with each chapter covering pathophysiology, clinical presentation, evidence-based diagnostic approaches, therapeutic decision-making, and inpatient management pearls. Complex topics such as acute respiratory failure, septic shock, acute kidney injury, decompensated heart failure, pulmonary embolism, diabetic emergencies, and acute stroke are given dedicated, in-depth treatment that reflects both the nuance of the science and the urgency of the clinical moment.Special chapters address the realities that define contemporary hospital medicine practice: perioperative medicine and surgical co-management, the care of the medically complex elderly patient, management of pain and palliative needs in the inpatient setting, transitions of care and readmission prevention, and the expanding landscape of quality metrics, value-based care, and clinical documentation. These chapters reflect the evolution of hospital medicine from a purely clinical discipline into a field deeply embedded in systems thinking, interprofessional collaboration, and healthcare improvement.Beyond the twenty chapters, five comprehensive appendices serve as an indispensable clinical reference — providing rapid access to normal laboratory values, validated clinical scoring tools, step-by-step procedural protocols, a complete glossary of medical terminology, and a master list of medical abbreviations. Whether used as a study resource, a clinical reference tool, or a comprehensive teaching text, this book is designed to meet the reader wherever they are — and elevate their practice.Whether you are a medical student building foundational knowledge, a resident developing clinical acumen, or an attending hospitalist refining your practice — this book is the authoritative companion you need at the bedside. Read more