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Is There a Hospitalist in the House?
Hospitalists are physicians who specialize in inpatient care. Read on to learn how having one can
improve the quality of your hospital stay.
Most people have never heard
the term hospitalist, never mind
actually received care from one.
But patients entering America's hospitals
today are increasingly familiar with this
emerging type of physician who specializes
in hospital inpatient care.
Hospitalists are specially trained physicians
dedicated to caring for hospitalized
patients. Most are located exclusively at
the hospital rather than having offices in
the community. Hospitalists usually are
internists, but there also are hospitalists
who specialize in areas such as cardiology,
pediatrics, pulmonology, and other fields.
"Working with patients' primary care
physicians, hospitalists take over patients'
care when they are admitted to the hospital,
providing a seamless, effective, and
highly efficient hospital experience for
patients," says Brian R. Incremona, M.D.,
board certified hospitalist at Riverview
Medical Center.
The advantage for hospitalized patients
is that the hospitalist is always in the
hospital and is accessible throughout a
patient's stay. The hospitalist is able to
monitor test results and changes in the
patient's condition throughout the day and
night until the patient is discharged and
returns to his or her primary care
physician for follow-up.
"The care process in a modern hospital
is increasingly complex," says Dr.
Incremona. "Hospitalists are trained
specifically in caring for the hospitalized
patient and allow primary care physicians
to dedicate more time to patients seeking
care in the office. Patients benefit from this
additional time with a dedicated physician
in both settings."
A hospitalist works with a patient's
primary care physician, sharing records
and information, and upon a patient's discharge,
prescribes any necessary medications
before transferring the patient back to the primary care physician for the patient's
long-term health and wellness.
"While hospitalists are becoming a wonderful
resource for patients, it is vitally important
for patients to maintain a relationship
with their primary physician," says Vincent F.
DeStasio, D.O., board certified family practice
physician affiliated with Ocean Medical
Center. "Since hospitalists are always in the
hospital, they can be with my patients when
I physically cannot. But my patients also
know I will be there with them for the next
phase of their health care, after they are
discharged."
 – Michael Valentino
- Speak with your primary care physician, and ask him or her who will be responsible for your care if you are hospitalized.
- If you have a planned admission to the hospital and have the opportunity, speak to the hospitalist before you are admitted.
- Bring a list of medications and allergies with you to the hospital — it is very useful for speaking with your hospitalist.
- If you don't have a primary care physician, ask your hospitalist for a referral before you are discharged.
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