What is a hospitalist?
Hospitalists are physicians who specialize in the care of patients in the hospital; coordinating their care from admission to discharge in partnership with the primary care provider.
Will I see my own physician?
The hospitalist will communicate with your primary care physician to better care for your overall needs and often has access to your primary care physicians’ notes. Your primary care physician will continue to care for you outside of the hospital. A hospitalist functions as a “specialist” for acutely ill people while they are in the hospital. Your primary care physician works in conjunction with your hospitalist as they would a radiologist, cardiologist or other specialist.
Why is a hospitalist taking care of me?
This arrangement was made so you have the benefit of a hospitalist physician (a doctor who is entirely focused on the care of hospitalized patients), and a medical team that is on site and always available to you and your family in case you have an urgent medical need.
How do I benefit from a hospitalist?
Because hospitalists work solely in the hospital, they can see you more than once a day if needed. They can check on your test results in a timely manner to make adjustments in your treatment throughout the day, and are available to coordinate your care. They are generally able to schedule meetings at your convenience during regular business hours to answer questions that you and your family may have.
Will the hospitalist know about me?
From the start of your admission, the hospitalist and your primary care provider will be communicating on a regular basis. At the time of your admission, records from your primary care office are requested and your condition discussed.
Will I see the same hospitalist every day?
Every effort will be made to have the same hospitalist physician see you daily. Because they provide care 24 hours a day, seven days a week, there will be times when another doctor sees you. All those providing your care will be fully informed about your condition.
Leaving the hospital
Our goal is to make your return to your home as smooth as possible. The hospitalist team will work with your primary care provider from the time of your admission to enable a timely and medically appropriate release from the hospital.