When you're admitted as a patient to Dameron Hospital, you'll likely meet a new member of your care team that will help manage your care and ensure you receive the highest level of service possible: a hospitalist. You might not be familiar with this important healthcare professional, but once you understand what they do, you may wonder how you were ever hospitalized without one.
Frequently Asked Questions
A hospitalist is a dedicated physician who is always present at the hospital and focuses on your care while you’re staying at Dameron. During your stay, the hospitalist stays in close contact with your referring or primary care physician to provide you with continuous care, comfort and stability. They are here to ensure your care experience and discharge is as smooth as possible.
Our hospitalists focus on patient care in the hospital, and can order tests, prescribe medications, arrange consultations with physicians and specialists and examine results in a timely manner, giving you the attention and optimal medical care you need. They are here to help you recover as soon as possible.
The advantages of being under the care of a hospitalist include:
- Availability on-site to you and your family 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to answer any questions that you and/or your family members may have. Since they're not seeing patients outside of the hospital, they're always available to help you.
- Real-time access to your tests and lab results to adjust your treatment plan immediately without any delay.
- Quicker response time to accommodate for any changes in your condition that may require immediate attention.
- Improved quality control and safety with better medication management and formalized communications with community-based providers.
Your hospitalist also serves as the primary point of contact for you, your family and your primary care physician (PCP). They facilitate communication to ensure that everyone knows what's happening with your care and your recovery, which helps with the continuity of your care after discharge. Once you're discharged, your PCP will be notified and provided with all records and notes from the hospitalist. If you do not have a PCP, our hospitalist team can also refer you to one for your follow-up care.
Our hospitalists will be here to serve you as soon as you're admitted—no appointment necessary. If you'd like to find out more about our Hospitalist Program, contact us at (209) 944-5550.