Hospitalist Services

Questions and Answers from The Hospitalist Group of South Jersey

Q. What is a Hospitalist?

A. Hospitalists are physicians who provide care to patients when they are in the hospital.  The Hospitalist physician works in partnership with a patient’s primary care physician.  A Hospitalist is present and available to treat any inpatient, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Q. Does the Hospitalist replace a patient’s primary care physician or physician specialist?

A. No, the Hospitalist does not  replace either the primary care physician or specialist physician, the Hospitalist works with them as a physician team member.   The Hospitalist physicians offer full-time care for patients while they are in the hospital.  During your Hospital stay and upon discharge to home, the Hospitalist remains in constant communication with the patient’s primary care physician and or specialists.   This is to maintain the care goals established during the patient’s hospital stay.

Q. Why is a Hospitalist, and not a patient’s primary care physician or physician specialist, providing the care while he or she is in the hospital?

A. Hospitalist physicians have only one focus, to concentrate on a patient’s hospital-based care during his or her time of need.    Many primary care doctors believe it is an asset to have a Hospitalist physician caring for their patients, they recognize the benefits to the patient of having a physician, present day and night (in the hospital).   The Hospitalist program at SOCH ensures that a physician will be available at all times to provide care for patients while they are in the hospital.  Having a physician solely dedicated to inpatient care allows the primary care physician to focus on their patients in the outpatient office setting.

Q. What if a patient is admitted through the Emergency Room to the Hospitalist Group, when will they be seen by the Hospitalist physician?

A. Because a Hospitalist physician is present in the hospital at all times, they are able to respond to emergency room patients referred to them immediately in most instances.

Q. Will patients see the same Hospitalist physician every day during their stay?

A. The Hospitalist Group of South Jersey makes every effort to schedule a physician for several days in a row  to maintain consistent contact when feasible.  If and when a change in physician coverage does occur, the Hospitalist physicians carefully review each patient’s medical record and treatment plan with the incoming physician, so consistency of care is maintained.  

Q. Will the Hospitalist physician meet daily with the Family Advocate?

A. A Family Advocate is someone who the patient has designated to be the responsible person to discuss medical care with the physician.  The Hospitalist physician is available to meet with the Family Advocate on a daily basis.   Because a Hospitalist is present in the hospital at all times, there is always the opportunity to discuss care plans.

Q. What kind of training do Hospitalist Physicians have?

A. Across the country it is the standard that Hospitalists be residency trained in either Family or Internal Medicine, additionally there is a small percentage of sub-specialists.  

Q. What doctor will the patient see after he or she is discharged from the Hospital?

A. Hospitalists physicians dedicate 100 percent of their time to caring for patients when they are in the hospital, therefore, they do not provide office-based care for patients once discharged.  After discharge from the Hospital the patient should follow up his or her care with a primary care physician or physician specialist, as directed.   The Hospitalist physician will contact the primary care physician or physician specialist to ensure they receive all follow up reports, medical records and recommendations for future testing.

Q. What if the patient doesn’t have a primary care physician? 

A. The Hospitalist physician will help the patient establish a primary care physician so that he or she can receive appropriate follow up care after discharge from SOCH.

Q. If the patient is from out of the area, will contact be made with his or her primary care physician?

A.The Hospitalist physician at SOCH will contact the patient’s primary care provider regardless of where the patient’s home is located.

Q. Will I receive a bill from the Hospitalist Group?

A. The Hospital Group of South Jersey is an independent physician group and as such will contact all third party insurance and or Medicare/Medicaid to assist in the billing process.   As with any independent physician, a bill will be generated for services provided.

Q. How can a patient contact the Hospitalist physician while in the hospital?

A. Once in the hospital the Patient or Family Advocate should notify the nurse requesting the Hospitalist stop by the room to discuss care plans.    Messages can be left at 609-978-3331 and the Hospitalist physician will respond as soon as feasible.  It is asked that one individual be the responsible party to communicate with the Hospitalist to reduce confusion and/or the creation of conflicting care plans within the family members.

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