What a tele-hospitalist does
Same clinical work as an in-house hospitalist: admit patients from the ED, round on inpatients, manage the plan of care, coordinate with nursing and case management, discharge patients with a documented plan, and respond to rapid response and code events by video. The only difference is the physician is not physically on-site.
Common tele-hospitalist coverage models
Daytime rounding coverage (the hospital has no in-house hospitalist). Nocturnist coverage (in-house team hands off at night). Weekend and holiday coverage. Cross-coverage that lets a small in-house team take real time off. Hybrid models mix and match. Most programs go live in weeks.
What separates premium tele-hospitalists
Rotating locums are the cheap version — different faces every week, no institutional memory. Premium tele-hospitalist programs assign dedicated teams so nurses see the same doctors on every shift. Beam requires NPI verification, board certification, and a minimum of 3 years post-residency for every tele-hospitalist.
Frequently asked
Is tele-hospitalist the same as a locum?
No. Locums are typically short-term coverage from a rotating pool. Tele-hospitalist programs assign dedicated physicians who learn your facility and stay long-term.
Can tele-hospitalists admit patients?
Yes. A credentialed tele-hospitalist admits patients from the ED, writes admission orders, and manages the care plan just like an in-house hospitalist.
Do we still need any in-house staff?
Yes. The bedside team (nurses, RTs, hospitalist-adjacent providers) still handles hands-on care. The tele-hospitalist is the physician of record — the coverage model varies by hospital.
How Beam delivers tele-hospitalist
Beam is the premium telemedicine partner — every clinician is NPI-verified with a minimum of 3 years post-residency (or post-credential for allied roles).
See Beam Tele-Hospitalist