What is a hospitalist?
A hospitalist is a physician who specializes in the care of patients in the hospital. They have completed medical school and a residency, usually in internal medicine.
There are currently 31,000 hospitalists practicing in hospitals across the nation.
How will a hospitalist work with me?
Together with your primary care physician (PCP), we plan and manage your treatment throughout your inpatient stay to help you achieve the best outcome possible.
Once admitted to the hospital, we will coordinate your course of treatment during your hospital stay, including ordering diagnostic imaging studies and lab work. We review all your tests and adjust your care based on your test results. Throughout your stay, we will continue to update you on your plan of care.
We will work with you and your family to personally answer and discuss any questions you may have about your illness, medications or other diagnostic and treatment processes during your hospitalization.
How will a hospitalist know my medical history?
We will spend extra time learning about you. At admission, if your care is assigned to one of our hospitalist, we will contact your PCP to review your patient history and review any notes in regards to your current condition. We will also review any past hospital records and gather information from you and your family.
Available 24-hours a day, 7-days a week
Since our hospitalists are on site 24-hours a day, seven days a week, we are able to provide you with around-the-clock care. This means that we are never more than a few minutes away. In fact, during your inpatient hospital stay, your nurse may page your hospitalist at any time, day or night, as needed.
Working in coordination with your primary physician
We will be in contact with your primary physician throughout your hospital stay. At the time of discharge, we will update your primary physician on care you received in the hospital including any prescriptions given upon discharge, further treatment recommendations or recommended follow-up care. When your discharge instructions are reviewed with you, you may be given an appointment for follow-up care with your primary care physician, or advised to call your physician to schedule an appointment.
Our commitment to you:
- Provide you with the best medical care possible
- Listen to your concerns and answer any questions you may have
- Discuss with you and involve you in decisions related to your medical care
- Communicate to your primary care physician in a timely manner to help facilitate continuity of care after your discharge from the hospital.