by Jennifer Kowalewski
Erich C. Maul, D.O. (’99),
sees the future of medicine clearly.
Gone will be the days of doctors
heading to hospitals to check on patients, taking time away from
their medical practice. Instead, hospitals are moving towards
having in-hospital doctors, or hospitalists, to oversee care,
Maul says. And although this model began in the 1990s with adult
patients, he would like to see more hospitals using this method
when dealing with pediatric patients.
Maul returns to his alma mater
Friday, Sept. 23, to discuss “The Pediatric Hospitalists,” the
fastest growing pediatric subspecialty.
“The main focus of my talk is
exploring this idea,” Maul says. “The medical community is
exploring this. There are lots of
opportunities to do this.”
Maul is the first speaker in a
series of lectures, “Taking Pride in Your Profession…
Celebrating Osteopathic Medicine.”
“OU-COM students, staff and
faculty are working together to promote osteopathic medicine by
sponsoring a variety of visiting speakers that will provide
students with the opportunity to see into the life of a
physician,” says Sharon Zimmerman, director of alumni
affairs.
“Throughout the year, we will be
recognizing the efforts and contributions of osteopathic
physicians and the osteopathic medical community as well as the
crucial role each plays in supporting the mission of the
American Osteopathic Association and the college,” says
Zimmerman.
Hospitalist is a phrase coined in 1996. The idea of hospitalists
began in Europe and Canada, where the model of socialized
medicine has been more generally adopted.
In the United States, primary
care physicians, or generalists, are often too busy to manage
hospitalized patients and oversee medical practices. Maul sees
hospitalists as the answer. Their utilization will allow
generalists more time for primary care in their practices.
Hospitalists are more readily
available to evaluate follow-up tests and studies. Also,
hospitalists can work in shifts, allowing for different, and
hopefully, fresher approaches to patient care, he says. Because
of the shifts, they will have a lower risk of burnout and more
time to teach medical students interested in becoming
hospitalists.
They typically employ
standardized care, which can lead to shorter stays in the
hospital.
Doctors of osteopathic medicine
are a great fit for this niche because they focus on
patient-centered care, he says. Maul wants to let the medical
students at OU-COM know “it might be a career choice for you.”
Maul, a major in the United
States Air Force, is stationed at Wright Patterson Air Force
Base in Dayton. He is an assistant professor of pediatrics at
Uniformed Services University and clinical assistant professor
of pediatrics at Wright State University.
“The physicians who will be
speaking throughout the year, such as Dr. Maul, you will find to
be strong advocates of research, health-care delivery and the
promotion of cost-effective health care,” says Zimmerman.
Maul will speak in Irvine 194 at
noon. Lunch will be provided by Student Government, the
Pediatric Club and the Office of Alumni Affairs.
- 30 -
News for
the week of Sept 19 –
Sept 24
