Quality improvement and patient safety will share the medical spotlight when the National Association of Inpatient Physicians (NAIP) teams with Harvard Medical School to present ``Hospitalists Focus on Quality,'' a two-day conference slated for November 2-3 in Cambridge.

More than 100 physicians from Massachusetts, New York, Illinois, Connecticut, Ohio and Maine will gather to explore recent findings in clinical research, practice innovations, clinical guidelines, case reports and quality improvement programs in the field of hospital medicine. This is the first Northeast Regional Meeting being sponsored by NAIP.

"NAIP is expanding its regional education outreach in the northeast because of the rapid growth of our membership in these states, coupled with the increasing awareness of the value hospitalists play in inpatient care," said NAIP President Ron Angus. "Regional and national meetings provide an exceptional forum for the presentation, discussion and recognition of original investigation and clinical projects in hospital medicine. As the Hospitalist movement continues to grow, our findings and contributions in inpatient care are proving to be of significant value to patients, hospitals and other physicians."

The conference courses will focus on issues that frequently arise in the hospital setting, such as pain management, perioperative care, geriatrics, continuity of care and end-of-life care. Hospitalists can find out more information by calling Harvard Medical School's Continuing Medical Education office at 617-384-8600 or by emailing Harvard at hms-cme@hms.harvard.edu .

The NAIP represents hospitalists, physicians whose primary professional focus is the general medical care of hospitalized patients. Hospitalists' activities include patient care, research, teaching and leadership related to hospital care. The Association was established in 1997 specifically to support and enhance the practice of hospitalists and the patients they serve. Currently there are approximately 5,000 hospitalists nationwide. This number is projected to grow fourfold by the end of the decade.

For more information about NAIP, call 1-800-843-3360, or visit the web site.