Hospitalists offer an enhanced level of care and care coordination.

They are hospital-based acute care specialists who focus on a patient's care from the time of admission to time of discharge.

Hospitalists are fully certified physicians who focus on inpatient care within the hospital. They do not have their own private practices and do not see patients outside the hospital.

The hospitalist does not replace your primary care physician, surgeons, or specialists, but works in close consultation with them to provide total case management during your entire hospital stay. Your own doctor decides how much of your care is turned over to the hospitalist, who will remain in contact with your doctor throughout your hospitalization.

Good communication between your primary care physician and the hospitalist begins when you are admitted. Your doctor is kept informed about your status and remains fully involved and supported during your hospital stay. The hospitalist is also in contact with your physician at the time of your discharge.

A hospitalist is available 24 hours a day, every day, to take care of urgent situations and provide dialogue with patients, their families, and their primary care physicians. You and your family can ask questions and discuss your case any time of the day, not just when your own doctor visits.

Other benefits of hospitalist care include:

• The hospitalist is thoroughly familiar with the hospital and its staff
• The hospitalist can check on a patient several times a day to ensure proper treatment
• If a complication arises, the hospitalist can deal with it right away
• The hospitalist can coordinate care with a specialist, if needed
• The hospitalist cares for patients who don't have their own doctor