|
|
||||
 | ||||
|
|
 |
Aurora Medical CenterWhat is a hospitalist? Inpatient careHospitalists are doctors specializing in inpatient medicine. These doctors are responsible for managing care while patients are in the hospital. Hospitalists manage consultations with specialists, order tests and procedures, and personally provide a consistent high level of care throughout a hospital stay. All of our doctors meet the following criteria:
Because these doctors spend their entire time in the hospital, they are available throughout the day for new admissions and emergencies. Once a patient is discharged, the care returns to his/her primary care (regular) doctor. What benefits can hospitalists offer patients?Hospitalists gain a great deal of experience in the unique aspects of a patient's needs during the hospital stay by focusing their practice on the care of hospitalized patients. And in case of an emergency, a hospitalist is never more than a few minutes away. They are available on-site seven days a week, 24 hours a day and will see a patient more than once a day, if needed. By being on-site within the hospital, hospitalists are able to review the progress of a patient's care and make decisions so that his/her treatment is not delayed. A hospitalist knows every specialist and department in the hospital and can assist patients through a smooth and speedy recovery process. They follow up on tests and adjust treatment regimens throughout the day based on those test results. Using a hospitalist team enables the primary care doctor to be available to patients in the office setting; and enables the hospitalist to be more available to care for patients who are at their sickest. Where does my primary care doctor fit in?Primary care doctors refer their patients to a hospitalist when their patients can no longer be cared for in an outpatient setting and requires hospitalization. During a hospital stay, patients may be seen by a hospitalist. Hospitalists direct inpatient care. Soon after a patient is discharged from the hospital, he/she will return to the care of his/her regular doctor. Patient communication - personal interactionHospitalists talk with patients and family members face-to-face whenever possible. During critical and stressful moments, they provide honest and considerate answers to patients' questions. Since hospitalists are in the hospital all day, they are able to spend more time talking to patients and family about their care. When a patient is critically ill, good communication about care and treatment options is more important than ever. Primary doctor interactionHospitalists talk to their patients' primary care doctors on a frequent basis. At the time of admission to the hospital, a patient's primary care doctor calls the hospitalist and informs him/her of the patient's condition and sends over records to provide as much information as possible. The process is similar to what a doctor does when he or she refers a patient to a specialist for another opinion or for additional tests and treatment. During the course of hospitalization, the hospitalist and primary care doctor may talk further about treatment options. At discharge, the hospitalist will talk with the patient's primary care doctor to discuss treatment needs, help arrange follow-up and prescribe the necessary medications. Memorial Hospital of Burlington's hospitalist teamCorey Black, MD Matthew Connolly, MD Vishnu Jindal, MD Jeffry Kreamer, DO Steven Sabath, DO |
||
 |
||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |