Book excerpt: In the exciting and growing field of hospital medicine, you're as concerned with the efficient management of your unit as you are the effective care of your patients. This title is your ideal new clinical reference on both counts. Nationally recognized experts equip you with practical, actionable guidance on all of the challenges you face every day—making it easier for you to provide optimal care for every patient. State-of-the-art, evidence-based, hospital-focused guidelines on clinical assessment, diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, and discharge/follow-up planning help you to effectively manage all of the key disorders in every body system. 20 chapters focused on peri-operative care assist you in navigating this increasingly important component of hospital medicine practice. Expert advice on systems issues explores how to establish and enhance a hospitalist program, provide leadership, manage patient transitions of care, establish a teamwork model with hospital staff, promote patient safety and staff performance improvement, standardize care, and navigate legal and ethical concerns.