Frequently Asked Questions

• What is a hospitalist?
• What are the benefits for patients?
• What can hospitalists do for patients?
• What value do hospitalists provide physicians?

What is a hospitalist?

Hospitalists are generally board certified internal medicine physicians who specialize in the care of patients while they are admitted to a hospital. They help manage patients through the continuum of hospital care, staying in close communication with the patient's referring physician, thus ensuring that patients receive the best care.

What are the benefits for patients?

There are many benefits to patients including:

• Hospitalists provide patients with continuous care, allowing them to see the same physician throughout their hospital stay.
• The hospitalist provides patients with comfort and stability.
• High quality of care is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• The patient sees a hospitalist as often as needed, instead of when doctors make their rounds once a day.
• Hospitalists can modify treatment or follow up on a test result immediately.
• Hospitalists are available to consult with the patient's family.

What can hospitalists do for patients?

First, since hospitalists practice within the hospital, they are present whenever the patient or family member has a question regarding care. Patients do not need to wait until their physician makes rounds to get answers. Second, hospitalists coordinate patient care with various specialists, surgeons, nurses, rehabilitation programs, placement, discharge planning, clergy and others.

Once a patient is discharged from the hospital, the patient’s care returns to their primary care physician. Since the hospitalist has been in continual communication with the primary care physician they will discuss what type of follow-up care will be needed by the patient. The process is similar to what your physician does when he or she refers you to a specialist for additional tests or treatment.

What value do hospitalists provide physicians?

Hospitalists provide primary care physicians the ability to focus their attention on their office practices, while at the same time knowing that their in-hospital patients are receiving the best care possible. This is particularly important because hospital patients today are more complex and more acutely ill than in the past.