HOSPITALIST
To provide you with the very best care during your hospital stay, your primary care physician has entrusted a hospitalist from the QMC Team to be your in-hospital doctor.
WHAT IS A HOSPITALIST?
Hospitalists are physicians who work solely in the hospital and are available throughout your stay to talk with you and your family about your care and treatment. Most hospitalists are internal medicine physicians or family medicine physicians.
WHEN WILL I SEE MY PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN?
Nationwide, primary care physicians are referring their patients to hospitalists upon admission to the hospital. During your stay, you will be seen by a hospitalist. You will see our regular doctor after your discharge.
WHAT BENEFITS DO HOSPITALIST PROVIDE TO ME AND MY DOCTOR?
- Hospitalists keep a close eye on you. In case of emergency, your hospitalist is never very far. That’s because he or she works only in the hospital and will see you more than once a day if needed. Your hospitalist knows every specialist and department in the hospital. Hospitalists expedite your care by following up on tests and adjusting your treatment regimen through the day based on those test results.
- Hospitalists answer your family’s questions. They are here to provide answers in person whenever possible. Becuase hospitalists are based in the hospital, they can spend time talking with family about your care. There’s no time when it’s more important to communicate about your care than when you are in the hospital.
- Hospitalists allow your primary care physician to be more available. Using a hospital medicine team enables your primary care physician to be more available to you in the office, and the hospitalist is available to care for you when you are hospitalized. For many patients and physicians, working with a hospital medicine team is a win-win proposition.
HOW DOES THE HOSPITALIST KNOW ABOUT ME?
At the time of your admission to the hospital, the hospitalist will review your medical records and many contact your primary care physician to discuss your condition. During the course of your hospitalization, the hospitalist and primary care physician may talk further treatment needs, help arrange follow-up care, and prescribe the necessary medications. Your primary care physician will have access to all your records following your stay.