These specialists give their
full attention to quality,
in-hospital medical care.
WHEN
you’re staying in the
hospital, you want—and deserve—to
have the best care
possible. at’s
why, the next time
you or a loved one
stays with us, you
may meet one of
the newest breeds of doctor around—a
medical professional called a hospitalist.
Hospitalists are doctors who
specialize in providing comprehensive,
high-quality medical care to
hospitalized patients. Unlike
traditional doctors, hospitalists don’t
treat patients outside the hospital.
Instead, their primary focus is to work
at the hospital to care for the needs of
acutely ill patients and their families.
In 1996, when the term
hospitalist
rst appeared in
e New England
Journal of Medicine
,
there were just
a few hundred of these specialists
around the country. Now there are
more than 30,000, according to the
Society of Hospital Medicine.
Caring for you 24/7
Hospitalists provide around-the-
clock care for hospitalized patients
and are especially skilled at treating
common health problems, such
as pneumonia,
infections, heart
attacks and
congestive heart
failure. ese
doctors devote
themselves to the complexities of
patients sick enough to need hospital
care.
e bene ts of having hospitalists
on sta are numerous. ey can:
The hospitalist is in
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Rapidly respond to their patients’
needs.
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Closely monitor their patients’
progress and quickly adjust
treatment as needed.
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Order and review tests, x-rays and
other procedures.
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Meet with family members to
answer questions and explain what is
going on.
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Keep primary care doctors informed
and coordinate patient care among
all members of the hospital sta .
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Oversee discharge from the
hospital and help with the transition
to the patient’s home.
Giving you peace of mind
Many studies have shown that
hospitalized patients are more
satis ed with their care when they
are cared for by hospitalists. Patients
also have better outcomes and fewer
unnecessary readmissions.
If you or someone you love needs
to be hospitalized, you may meet a
hospitalist. In fact, you may meet
more than one. But each will have
the same focus: to provide quality
medical care and treatment to every
hospitalized patient.
To learn more about our sta
and services, visit us online
at
www.columbiamemorial.org
.
When a loved one is in the hospital
Most of us probably agree that keeping
health information con dential is a good
idea. But what about when a close friend
or family member is sick or injured?
Sometimes we need to know what’s
going on, especially if a loved one isn’t
able to contact us right away.
Fortunately, federal health privacy
rules take such occasions into account.
According to the U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services, the
rules allow hospitals and other health
providers to notify family members or
others if a person has been hospitalized.
Hospitals also can give information about
a person’s general condition.
For example, the rules don’t prevent a
doctor or nurse from:
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Calling a family member, roommate
or friend if a person has been in an
accident.
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Telling a woman’s husband that she is in
labor and at the hospital.
Also, unless a patient objects, the rules
allow friends and family to:
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Call the hospital and learn the patient’s
general condition.
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Visit the person in the hospital.
www . columbiamemorial . org
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