Hospitalist

What is a Hospitalist?

A hospitalist is a physician who specializes in caring for patients who have been admitted to the hospital. Hospitalists are usually internal medicine or family practice physicians. Hospitalists don't maintain outside offices; they specialize in managing serious and acute illnesses and providing hospital care to patients 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

When Will I See My Regular Doctor?

When patients are admitted to CHRISTUS St. Vincent, a hospitalist is often an important part of the care team. Your family doctor, surgeon, or other specialist may request a hospitalist to assist in your care.  The hospitalist communicates with the your doctor(s) on a regular basis. Your family doctor can also visit you while in the hospital. After you go home from the hospital, you will see your family doctor or other specialist for follow-up care.

Hospitalists Provide Many Benefits to You and Your Doctor

Our hospitalists keep a close eye on you. Hospitalists are more available to you than a doctor with a busy day scheduled at the office. CHRISTUS St. Vincent's hospitalists are always close by. That's because they are in the medical center around the clock. Your hospitalist knows the specialists and departments at CHRISTUS St. Vincent and will assist you through a smooth and speedy recovery by following up on tests and adjusting your treatment throughout the day.

Hospitalists answer your family's questions. Because hospitalists are based in the hospital, an important benefit of the hospitalist service is increased availability to you and your family. Hospitalists provide timely, honest, and considerate answers to all your questions.

Hospitalists allow your family doctor to be more available to you in the office. Because hospitalists are in the hospital all day taking care of hospitalized patients, your family doctor will not be interrupted by emergency calls from the hospital, so he or she can spend time with you in the office with fewer delays, devoting more time to keeping you and your family healthy. In turn, hospitalists are more available to care for you when you are in the hospital.

How Does the Hospitalist Know About Me?

At the time of your admission and during your stay at CHRISTUS St. Vincent, the hospitalists will communicate with your family doctor or surgeon and any other physician specialists that participate in your treatment. When you go home, the hospitalist will ensure that your family doctor or surgeon and any specialists who participated in your care receive the medical records needed for follow-up care. CHRISTUS St. Vincent hospitalists will also work with hospital case managers to make sure you receive the prescriptions, resources and information you need when you go home.