What is a Hospitalist?
Hospitalists are physicians who ensure you receive the proper level of quality medical attention during your hospital stay. Their sole focus is the orchestration of your care, including coordination of any necessary consults with specialty physicians. The hospitalist also acts as a liaison to your primary care physician (PCP) and may work with your PCP and/or specialist prior to admission. If you enter the hospital through the Emergency Department, the hospitalist will notify your PCP regarding your admission, your condition and treatment plan. Hospitalists are also in contact with your PCP upon your discharge so that there are no gaps in your care.
Hospitalists:
- Treat patients who are admitted to the hospital if the patient's primary care physician does not care for patients in the hospital setting
- Care for hospitialized patients who do not have a primary care physician
- consult and treat patients referred by surgeons and other specialists