Hospitalists

One of the benefits of going to Wesley Medical Center or Wesley Woodlawn Hospital & ER is the hospitalist program we offer to all our inpatients. These specialized physicians are solely dedicated to caring for patients who are in the hospital and do not have a private practice outside of the hospital. Having a hospitalist program allows patients to access a highly trained, board-certified doctor available 24/7. Our hospitalists are qualified to care for both adults and children, allowing for them to care for patients of all ages and backgrounds. They also have teaching, research and leadership roles at our facilities.

Hospitalists visit their patients every day while they are in the hospital to ensure patients are on the road to recovery. Patients may see the same hospitalist throughout their hospital stay or they may be cared for by more than one of the hospitalists on staff. The hospitalists keep each other informed about their patients' medical conditions and needs.

The hospitalists coordinate care with the patient's primary care doctor or another doctor from the primary care doctor's practice. If additional expertise is needed, a specialist is consulted. A dismissal summary is sent to the patient's primary care doctor following discharge from the hospital, and follow-up care is provided by the primary care doctor.

Our hospitalists assume the care of hospitalized patients as requested. Working as partners with primary care doctors, the hospitalists are available to coordinate admission and provide comprehensive, 24-hour coverage while patients are in-house. Patient care is directed back to the primary care doctor upon discharge.

• Convenience for primary care doctors
• Rapid response to crises and changes in a patient's condition
• Increased availability to family and patients
• Familiarity with hospital employees
• Expertise in care of common inpatient disorders
• Convenience in coordinating care with post-acute healthcare providers
• Accountability for cost and quality in hospital

• Physicians report improved efficiency and productivity
• No change in mortality rates
• 54 percent reduction in re-admission rates
• Reduced length of stay
• Reduced median cost of care

• Upon request, the hospitalist consults with the primary care doctor regarding admission decision and obtains patient's records from physician's office or clinic
• Patient status is reported to primary care physician via fax or phone
• Patient expectations for hospital stay are set or reviewed
• Discharge planning and coordination are started
• Projected discharge date is communicated to patient or family

• Diagnosis and clinical decisions are made
• Appropriate tests and procedures are ordered
• Primary care physician is consulted
• Hospitalists are available to patient through the day
• Discharge planning is coordinated

• Discharge planning is coordinated and primary care physician consulted
• Discharge summary is faxed to primary care physician at the time of discharge
• Patient is given post-discharge instructions