IPA: /ˈhɒspɪtəlɪst/
KK: /ˈhɑːspɪtəlɪst/
A doctor who focuses on the treatment and care of patients who are staying in a hospital.
The hospitalist coordinated the care for all the patients in the ward.
Hospitalist is formed from "hospital" (from Old French *hospital*, meaning a place for the sick or needy) and "-ist" (meaning a person who practices or is concerned with something). The word refers to a person who specializes in the care of patients in a hospital setting.
Think of a 'hospital' as a place for the sick, and '-ist' means a person who practices in that field. So, a hospitalist is someone who specializes in caring for patients in a hospital.