Your Health: What is a Hospitalist?
By: Tom Yazwinski
Updated: June 20, 2012
This week, we learned what a Hospitalist does. A hospitalist is there to not only heal you but is also there to help.
The hospitalist frequently call, sometimes just to clarify current medications, but especially if a new grave diagnosis or if we need to make sure of very close follow-up. Every patient gets a discharge summary upon discharge that is sent to the PCP, and most of our doctors have lists built into the medical record where thy can see which of their patients are in the hospital and will occasionally check in with us.
The hospitalist can diagnose new conditions and recommend treatments, but many of these need to be followed regularly and also there are studies done in the hospital (such as biopsies and lab results) that need follow-up.
The hospitalist frequently call, sometimes just to clarify current medications, but especially if a new grave diagnosis or if we need to make sure of very close follow-up. Every patient gets a discharge summary upon discharge that is sent to the PCP, and most of our doctors have lists built into the medical record where thy can see which of their patients are in the hospital and will occasionally check in with us.
The hospitalist can diagnose new conditions and recommend treatments, but many of these need to be followed regularly and also there are studies done in the hospital (such as biopsies and lab results) that need follow-up.
