Coordinating Your Care – Our Hospitalist Program
As a patient at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, your care is at the heart of every service we provide. That’s why we have a “Hospitalist Program” where doctors inside the hospital work closely with your own physician and specialists to coordinate your care during your stay at the hospital.
What Is A Hospitalist?
A Hospitalist is a physician who specializes in carrying for patients while they are in the hospital. Hospitalists usually care only for patients who are hospitalized and do not have an outside practice. Our Hospitalists specialize in general internal medicine, so they have a wide range of medical expertise from which to draw.
How Does The Hospitalist Know About Me?
While you are a patient at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, your Hospitalist talks to your primary care physician* frequently. Here’s how it works:
When you are admitted to the Medical Center, your primary care physician calls the Hospitalist to inform him or her of your condition, and sends records to the hospital to provide needed information about your illness. (This process is similar to when your doctor refers you to a specialist.)
During your hospitalization, your Hospitalist will supervise your care and consult with your primary care physician about your treatment as needed.
When you are discharged from the Medical Center, your Hospitalist will get in touch with your primary care physician to discuss further treatment needs, help arrange follow-up, prescribe medications, and send your hospital records to him or her.
When Will I See My Primary Care Physician?
Your Hospitalist and primary care physician will consult with each other about your progress as needed, and your primary care physician may also visit you while you are in the Medical Center. You will see your primary care physician again after your discharge from the Medical Center, in his or her office for your continuing treatment.
What Are The Benefits Of Receiving Care From A Hospitalist?
There are many benefits of receiving care from our team of Hospitalists. They:
- Are never more than a few minutes away because they work in the Medical Center.
- Can see you more than once a day if needed.
- Know every specialist and department in the Medical Center.
- Can quickly follow up on tests and adjust your treatment regimen as needed throughout the day.
- Are available 24-hours a day, and can spend time talking with you and your family about your care.
Because your Hospitalist closely attends to you when you are hospitalized, your primary care physician’s time is freed to be more available to you and other patients when you are in his or her office. With a physician in the hospital at all hours of the day and night, it’s easier for you and your family to communicate about your treatment.
*If you do not have a primary care physician, your Hospitalist will work to help refer you to one upon your discharge.