CVMC's Hospitalist Program

A hospitalist is a specialist in the field of Internal Medicine who cares only for hospitalized patients. Hospitalists, have no patient care responsibilities outside the hospital. This enables them to focus exclusively on the acute care patients and their illness while hospitalized.

All CVMC’s hospitalists have experience in managing complex medical situations and have a full time commitment to in-hospital patients.

As a rule, hospitalized patients have serious symptoms. Because they treat only hospitalized patients, hospitalists are skilled in the latest diagnostics and treatments. Being in the hospital at all times, they are able to respond immediately to any change in a patient’s condition.

In addition to providing quality patient care based on proven treatments, the hospitalist serves as a patient’s doctor and advocate.  The hospitalist is the doctor who coordinates all of a patient’s hospital care including tests and consultations.
 
The hospitalist is a communicator. He or she works with the patient’s primary care physician and communicates with patients, patient families and consulting physicians.  He or she also develops the patient’s post-hospital care plan and promotes patient education.  

Primary care physicians (PCPs) are essential to the patient’s care plan, delivering post-hospital care and developing long-term care plans. PCPs are kept updated about the plans, treatments and progress of their hospitalized patients.  
 
Not all primary care physicians choose to participate in the hospitalist program.  In all cases, patients should discuss this with their PCP.

“Quality of care and patient safety rank as the primary reason for implementing a 24/7 program.  Patients benefit the most from round-the-clock medical attention as continuity of care increases their chance for quick recovery and reduces the potential for decompensation.  Furthermore, length of stay and healthcare costs can be reduced...” (article from The Hospitalist, co-authored by Stacy Goldsholl, M.D.).

A hospitalist is available to nurses 24 hours a day to discuss any changes or issues regarding a patient’s medical care.
 
Since the hospitalist is physically present every day, patients can be assured that their needs are being addressed continually and promptly.

Throughout a patient’s hospital stay the hospitalist meets with other doctors taking care of the patients,  nurses,  physical, occupational and speech therapists to continually reassess a patient’s needs.
           
Over the past decade, research studies prove that hospitalists increase patient satisfaction and contribute to a decrease in patient lengths of stay, hospital costs and patient mortality rates,  according to the Society of Hospital Medicine.  Hospital Medicine specialists or “hospitalists” are the fastest growing medical specialty.