Hospitalists are board-certified internal medicine or family practice physicians who specialize in caring for patients while they are in the hospital. Based within the hospital and available to patients 24 hours a day, seven days a week, hospitalists are knowledgeable about the conditions that require hospitalization and how to best care for them.
Hospitalists ensure patients receive coordinated care, much in the same way a patient’s primary care doctor would outside the hospital. During your hospitalization, your hospitalist assumes the role of your primary care provider, serving as your physician advocate and coordinating your care among specialists and caregivers assigned to you during your stay.
Here are just some of the benefits of a hospitalist:
- On-site and available around the clock.
- A physician who is familiar with your needs and orders, monitors your tests and coordinates your medications and treatments.
- The hospitalist coordinates communication among all specialists involved in your care to ensure everyone is working as a team.
- Patient access to information and improved communication with the patient and family.
- Regular communication and updates to your primary care physician.
Hospitalists help to provide a coordinated transition to begin a hospital stay and returning to primary care after discharge. During your stay, your primary care physician will receive ongoing communication about your care and progress. Following your discharge, all inpatient information will be available to your regular physician and other specialists for follow-up care.
Adult Hospitalist
Dedicated to caring for adult patients during their hospital stay, adult hospitalists are trained and well-versed in the patient needs that accompany hospitalization. They will coordinate a care plan to help restore your health and serve as a communication source for family members and your primary care physician.
Infectious Disease Hospitalist
An infectious disease can result in hospitalization or contribute to a patient’s vulnerability when facing other health challenges. Infection disease hospitalists are trained in preventing, reducing and eliminating infections during a hospital stay and coordinating care after discharge, working in collaboration with other care providers.
The infectious disease hospitalists at St. Bernards treat:
- Bacterial infections
- Bone infections
- Fungal infections
- Respiratory infections, including pneumonia
- Sepsis
- Surgical wound infections
- Viral infections
Intensivist
Intensivists are designated to care for the most critically ill patients at St. Bernards, most often in the intensive care unit (ICU). These physicians have specialized training and experience treating patients with critical needs. This gives them an advanced understanding of a broad range of conditions and treatment methods used to care for complex patients.
By taking a lead role and coordinating care for critically ill patients, intensivists:
- Improve patient outcomes and survival rates
- Reduce complications
- Shorten length of ICU stay and overall hospital stay
- Enhance safety
- Improve communication and care coordination
- Provided smooth patients transitions within the hospital, from admission to discharge
OB Hospitalist
The arrival time of a newborn can be unpredictable. Ensuring we’re ready when your baby is ready, St. Bernards is staffed by obstetric (OB) hospitalists 24 hours a day, seven days a week. These obstetricians coordinate care with your regular OB/GYN, will assess and manage patients at his/her request, will deliver your baby in his/her absence and are ready to assist should difficulties related to labor and delivery arise.
Having an OB hospitalist on-site allows for the immediate management of any issue or complication that may accompany the birth of a child. OB Hospitalist are trained in neonatal CPR, advanced cardiac life support and OB emergency care. They are prepared and committed to providing outstanding care for you and your child.
Pediatric Hospitalist
When your child requires hospitalization, care will be delivered and coordinated by a pediatric hospitalist, a specialized hospital physician devoted to your child’s care during his or her hospital stay. Care is closely coordinated with your regular pediatrician, from admission to post-discharge treatment plans that ensure appropriate follow-up or long-term care.
During your child’s stay, the pediatric hospitalist will:
- Guide you through admission to the hospital.
- Assess and treat your child’s medical condition.
- Regularly report progress to your child’s pediatrician.
- Coordinate your child’s care, including all tests such as x-rays, blood tests or other procedures.
- Arrange any specialty care, therapy or consultations with other providers.
- Be available to both you and your family to provide information and answer questions.
- Transition your child’s care back to his or her pediatrician upon discharge.
Pediatric Care and Conditions
- Care of newborns and conditions occurring around the time of birth
- Infections of the skin, urinary tract, intestine
- Respiratory illness such as pneumonia, acute and chronic bronchitis, croup and other illnesses affecting the nose, throat and trachea
- Infectious diseases of the blood, skin, lungs and kidneys
- Chronic illnesses, such as diabetes and asthma
- Recovery from surgery or injury
- Common pediatric illnesses, such as flu and dehydration
- Viral infections
- Fractures of the arm and leg
- Fluid and electrolyte disorders
- Fever of unknown origin
- Pediatric PICC lines
- High-flow nasal cannula
- Continuous Albuterol
- ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat) general surgery
- Circumcision