Hospital Medicine
Hospital medicine is a new and rapidly growing field within internal medicine. Physicians specializing in hospital medicine are referred to as “hosptialists” and focus their pratice on the care of hospitalized patients.
By offering a locally-based hospitalist program through Southland Hospitalist Group, a physician-owned and operated practice to provide our patients with access to experienced hospital physicians with long-term interest in our hospital and community, we’re able to focus on ways to more effectively serve our inpatients and referring physicians.
What is hospital medicine?
The hospital medicine concept has grown rapidly across the country. In 2003, 30% of hosptials had hospitalists on staff. The number jumped to 60% in 2010 and has continued to grow rapidly. This shift in practice methods has been initiated largely by primary care physicians due to a number of factors including convenience, efficiency, patient safety and the need for more specialized and coordinated care for hospitalized patients.
What is a hospitalist?
Hospitalists are physicians that specialize in the care of hospitalized patients. Hospitalists are on site, within the hospital seven days a week, 24 hours a day providing continuity of care during the patient’s hospital stay. They work as partners communicating with patients’ primary care physicians and appropriate specialists throughout the hospital to coordinate patient care as needed.
Hospitalists ensure patients receive the highest quality care and seamless transitions from admission to discharge.
Why am I being treated by a doctor other than my personal physician?
Your personal physician referred you to Archbold Memorial Hospital and made arrangements for a hospitalist to care for you while you’re in the hospital. During your hospital stay, the hospitalists assigned to you will direct your care, answer your questions and coordinate your discharge plans and will communicate this information to your personal physician.
Because our doctors are in the hospital or on-call, they can respond quickly to your medical needs during your stay. They also can arrange for a wide variety of specialists to consult on your care if that becomes necessary.
Will I see more than one doctor while I’m at Archbold Memorial Hospital?
In most cases, you will be cared for by your hospitalist. You may have more than one physician if you have a prolonged hospital stay. Our electronic medical record system will ensure that all relevant information regarding your care will be conveyed to your physician(s).
What will my personal physician know about my hospital stay?
During your hospital stay, your hospitalist will contact your personal physician to obtain additional medical history and discuss treatment plans, if necessary. Upon discharge, a letter detailing your hospital stay, test results and follow-up instructions will be sent to your personal physician.
Which doctor will I see after I am discharged from the hospital?
When you are discharged from the hospital, your outpatient physician will resume responsibility for your care. Depending on your outpatient medical needs, you may also be under the care of other specialist physicians.
Does care by a Southland hospitalist add to my hospital or doctor bill?
Your bill from Southland will be similar to what your personal physician would have charged for services. However, with each inpatient hospital stay, individual bills may be generated from the hospital, Southland hospitalists and any specialty physicians who may have been consulted on your care during the hospital stay.
Does my health insurance cover hospitalist care?
Southland physicians participate in almost all insurance plans. If you are concerned about insurance, please contact Southland’s billing office at 229.228.8575 to see if your health care plan is accepted.
Who can I call with questions about my Southland bill?
For questions regarding your Southland bill please contact MedData’s patient service line at 855.893.2512.