Hospital Medicine

During your stay at CHI St. Alexius Health, you will be treated by many healthcare professionals. Among them is a group of doctors known as hospitalists.

What is a Hospitalist?
Hospitalists are physicians who specialize in treating adult patients in the hospital. They only see patients who are in the hospital and are assisted by nurse practitioners and physician assistants. 

If your primary care provider utilizes Hospital Medicine services and you need to be admitted to the hospital, you will be admitted by one of our hospitalist providers. They will work closely with your primary care provider to manage and direct your care during your stay in the hospital. Our Hospital Medicine team works together closely, so you may see more than one of them during your stay.

Our hospitalists are here to answer any questions you or your family may have during your stay. They will keep your primary care provider updated on your progress while you’re under their care.

Benefits of Hospital Medicine Services
There are many benefits of Hospital Medicine services.  A few of them include:

• Constant care. Hospitalists are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to provide prompt and professional medical care.
• Coordinated care. While you are a patient in the Medical Center, your hospitalist will be in contact with your regular healthcare provider. Also, because they are familiar with the key staff in the hospital, such as medical and surgical consultants, specialists, or clergy, they know who to contact to give you the best care.
• Prompt care. Your hospitalist is already in the hospital, so they are able to recognize and respond to abrupt changes in your condition.
• Primary care. Hospitalists are an excellent resource for patients without a primary care provider.

Working Together
While you are a patient in the Medical Center, your hospitalist will communicate with your regular healthcare provider, and that provider can contact the hospitalist if necessary.  To ensure the best care, your hospitalist will also coordinate your care with other specialists as needed.

What to Expect When Discharged
When you are discharged from CHI St. Alexius Health, you are placed back under the care of your regular healthcare provider. The hospitalist will write one-month prescriptions for any medicines that were started in the hospital. If needed, the prescriptions must be refilled by your regular healthcare provider. In addition, that provider will receive a record of the treatment you received while in the hospital and a copy of your discharge instructions.

Remember, hospitalists do not see patients outside of the hospital. If you have any questions after you are discharged, please contact your regular healthcare provider’s office.

• For more information on Hospital Medicine click here [1]
• Meet our CHI St. Alexius Health’s Hospital Medicine Team [2]
• Learn more [3] about the Hospital Medicine Fellowship Opportunities