What is a hospitalist?
A hospitalist is a physician who specializes in caring for patients in the hospital and does not have an outpatient medical practice. Most hospitalists are general internal medicine physicians, while some are trained as specialists in pulmonary/critical care medicine, cardiology or other subspecialties. During your hospital stay, a hospitalist will see you. You will see your regular doctor soon after discharge from the hospital.
Because they are onsite, hospitalists are never more than a few minutes away. Your hospitalist knows every specialist and department in the hospital and will assist you through a smooth and speedy recovery process by following up on tests and adjusting your treatment regimens as needed.
Your primary care physician is notified when you're admitted to the hospital. At discharge, your hospitalist will help arrange follow-up, prescribe the necessary medications and send your hospital records to your primary care physician.
Pediatric hospitalists
Pediatric hospitalists provide care for hospitalized children up to age 18 and are available for area pediatricians and family physicians to use when pediatric patients are admitted into Firelands. Their services include:
- Newborn care for healthy-term newborns and newborns who require special medical attention
- Pediatric care of hospitalized children with conditions including, but not limited to, asthma, dehydration, diabetes and seizures and special healthcare needs
Once discharged from the hospital, pediatric patients under the pediatric hospitalists’ care will resume follow-up care with their pediatrician or family doctor. Many cases that previously would have needed to be referred to other facilities can now remain at Firelands Regional Medical Center under the care of the pediatric hospitalists.
