Hospital Medicine
The Hospital Medicine Service is composed of physicians called hospitalists whose specialty is internal medicine, and whose focus is the field of hospital medicine. When you are admitted to the hospital, you are cared for by a team led by a special physician called a hospitalist. Your personal physician, who cares for you in the outpatient clinic may not be part of the hospital team, but he or she will stay in close contact with the hospitalist caring for you during your hospital stay.
Hospitalists are physicians specializing in hospital care for adults
You will receive care from physicians whose knowledge and skills are focused on caring for the hospitalized patient.
You will be seen by physicians who are available to you, your family, and the nursing staff to discuss your ongoing hospital care needs.
You will be seen by physicians who can coordinate your hospital care 24 hours a day, to help you recover as quickly as possible.
What to expect
Physicians in our Hospital Medicine Service groups are usually scheduled 4-5 days in a row; so, if your stay is longer than a week, you may be seen by more than one hospitalist.
Your hospitalist will see you daily. Questions are welcomed from you and your family members. We encourage you to choose a family spokesperson – please let your nurse know this person’s name and phone number. The best time for your hospitalist to speak with family members is in the late morning until 5:00 pm, but exceptions can be made. The hospitalist is available 7 days a week.
For medical emergencies at night, a qualified nighttime physician will be covering for the daytime hospitalist. However, questions about specific issues regarding your care are best answered by your daytime hospitalist, who is most familiar with your case.
While you are here
Your nurse can be your caregiver, teacher, and advocate. He or she will be able to provide information and will serve as a contact person between you and those involved in your care.
Your patient care coordinator can help make your transition from the hospital to your destination (home, nursing home, rehabilitation center, etc.) as smooth as possible.
Our medical social work staff provides counseling and/or assistance for concerns you or your family members may have. The social worker also can assist you in identifying and selecting appropriate available resources in the community.
Our medical staff is committed to helping you feel comfortable while you are here with us. And we also understand that, while you are here, it’s important you get the information you will need to care for yourself when you return home. We encourage you and your family members to ask any questions you may have and to take an active role in your recovery.
Going home
Your hospitalist will assess your condition daily and determine when you are well enough to leave the hospital. Before you leave the hospital, your hospitalist and nurse will give you information about discharge medication(s), home care, and follow-up appointment(s).
Please arrange to have a family member or a friend available at your discharge time to provide transportation. If you need help arranging transportation, please let a medical social worker or patient care coordinator know as soon as possible, so that your discharge is not delayed.
Quality and Service are our goals
You will be seen by physicians who are available to you, your family, and the nursing staff to discuss your ongoing hospital care needs.
You will be seen by physicians who will coordinate your hospital care, 24 hours a day, to help you recover as quickly as possible.
Resuming care with your personal physician or practitioner
After you are discharged from the hospital, your personal physician, or nurse practitioner will resume responsibility for your care. If you have questions regarding your follow-up care, please call 510-752-1190 or 510-307-1555.