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The next time you or a loved one stays
with us, youmaymeet one of the newest
breeds of doctor around—amedical
professional called a hospitalist.
18 ARCHBOLD
MEDICAL CENTER
WHEN YOU’RE
in the hospital, you
want—and deserve—to have the best
care possible. That’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.
Q
What is a hospitalist?
A:
“Hospitalists are doctors who
specialize in providing comprehensive,
high-quality medical care to hospitalized
patients,” said Allen Lee, MD, CEO of
SouthlandMD. “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.”
Q
What do hospitalists do?
A:
“We provide around-the-clock care
for hospitalized patients,” said David
Mederos, DO, Archbold hospitalist.
“We’re especially skilled at treating
common health problems, such as pneu-
monia, infections, heart attacks
and congestive heart failure.
We’re devoted to providing
the best high-quality care to
patients sick enough to be
hospitalized.”
Q
What type of training does a
hospitalist have?
A:
“Hospital medicine is a type of prac-
tice within internal medicine in which
the clinical focus is caring for hospital-
ized patients,” said Jeremy Latimer, MD,
Archbold hospitalist. “Internists practicing
hospital medicine are frequently called
hospitalists. Although not all hospitalists
are required to be internists, the nature
of internal medicine training uniquely
prepares internists for hospital medicine
practice. As a result, the vast majority of
hospitalists are trained in internal medi-
cine, usually general internal medicine.”
Q
What are the benefits of having
hospitalists on staff?
A:
“Because we only treat patients in the
hospital, hospitalists are available to rapidly
respond to their patients’ needs,” said
Kristopher Palmer, DO, Medical Director
of Hospital Medicine at Archbold. “We
closely monitor our patients’ progress and
quickly adjust treatment as needed. We’re
on-site to order and review tests, x-rays
and other procedures, and meet with
family members to answer questions and
explain what’s going on.”
Q
Why can’tmy primary care doctor
see me in the hospital anymore?
A:
“Archbold hospitalists work closely
with all of your doctors while you are
What is a
hospitalist?
under our care in the hospital,” said Grady
Floyd, MD, Archbold hospitalist. “We keep
your primary care doctor, and any other
doctors you may have, informed of what
is going on. Part of our job is to coordi-
nate patient care among all members of
the hospital medical staff.”
Q
Will I have to follow up with a
hospitalist once I’m discharged
from the hospital?
A:
“We oversee your care until you are
discharged from the hospital,” said Fiona
Kehoe, MD, Archbold hospitalist. “We help
patients transition home once they are
able to leave the hospital environment.”
Q
Why does Archbold have a hos-
pital medicine program?
A:
“Many studies have shown that
hospitalized patients are more satisfied
with their care when they are cared for by
hospitalists,” said Ali Khan, MD, Medical
Director of Hospital Medicine at Archbold.
“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
high-quality medical
care and treatment
to every hospital-
ized patient.”