“Hospitalist” is a relatively new term but is based on a time tested idea. As the power of technology has expanded, the average patient’s care has become more and more complicated. Many of today’s patients could never have hoped to survive in the past. At the same time, it has become harder and harder for “traditional” doctors to do all they need to in their offices or manage patients in the hospital optimally.
A group of Internal Medicine and Family Medicine doctors has arisen who specialize in caring for hospitalized patients. These doctors are called hospitalists. The goal of these doctors is to provide a more efficient and safer transit through each hospital stay.
Chesapeake Hospitalists’ office staff calls local physician’s offices each weekday to let the staff know that a patient of that physician has been newly admitted.
A written report of our patients’ admission and discharge information is faxed to their primary care physicians. We have also made a concerted effort to get many local doctors’ offices computer access to the secured hospital system, where all of our patients’ tests and reports can be found by professionals with appropriate access.
Though it is not feasible for our physicians or the primary care doctors to call for every issue, we do frequently contact them to request information about patients and to give them the information they will need to care for patients after hospital discharge.
1. In a world of rapidly increasing technology, we can remain up to date on the needs and treatment of hospitalized patients.
2. We are very familiar with the inner workings of the hospital and work with the other specialists there daily; this allows us to arrange tests and treatments in the most timely manner possible.
3. Because we are stationed in the hospital, we are more readily available to our patients, their family members, and the nurses. We are available for rapid follow up of tests and treatments to quickly determine the next step if needed.
4. The timing of medical problems is not always predictable. That is why Chesapeake Hospitalists has physician staffing around the clock inside the hospital. If in the middle of the night you need to be admitted to the hospital, one of our team of doctors will be available to evaluate you and begin your care plan soon after admission. If you are already admitted but develop a problem, this assures the quickest response time possible.
1. Dedicated hospital medicine doctors are emerging to lead initiatives in maximizing the quality, safety and efficiency of our hospital.
2. The presence of hospitalists managing patients care in the hospital keeps your primary care doctor more readily available in their office when you need them; rather than having to attend to emergencies in the hospital, he or she can stay focused on the care of patients waiting in their office.
3. A hospitalist service at Chesapeake General Hospital is critical in bringing more primary care doctors and subspecialists to our community. Hospitalists assume many of the duties that could make starting a successful practice untenable.
