04/04/2007
(HARTFORD, Conn.) Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center has recently expanded its Hospitalist service model to include both hospital-based and private-practice groups.
A Hospitalist is a physician whose main focus is the care of hospitalized patients, from admission through discharge. Many patients are referred to Hospitalists by their primary care physicians (PCPs) for treatment. Patients without personal physicians are also assigned to a Hospitalist at admission.
The goal of a hospitalist is to promote high-quality care, education, teamwork and changes in the healthcare structure that make care efficient and cost effective,� explains Surendra Khera, M.D., Director of Academic Inpatient Medical Services, one of two hospitalist groups serving patients at Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center. We serve three constituents: the patient, referring private physicians and the Hospital.�
This is an exciting approach designed to enhance patient care and improve quality at all levels,� says Dr. Michael Teiger, who leads the Pulmonary and Internal Medicine Associates, a group of private practitioners. Saint Francis is a private practice hospital, and we as private practitioners are very strong in our relationships with the general physician population who refer their patients to the Hospital. We are able to concentrate on that aspect with the goal of keeping referring physicians linked to the system,� added Dr. Teiger.
Hospitalists are part of an emerging phenomenon in the medical field. Today, more than 15,000 Hospitalists are practicing in the U.S. and Canada, a number expected to double in three years. Yet, despite its gaining popularity, it still remains a profession unfamiliar to many.
Studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of Hospitalist care. Length of stay and overall medical outcomes are improved, and the cost of taking care of a patient during the hospitalization is lower as a result. The academic experience of residents and students is also improved in the Hospitalist model, compared to the traditional model which utilizes private practitioners to provide the bulk of the teaching experience,� says Khera.
Patient safety is another factor that is enhanced by the care provided by the full-time Hospitalists. Increasingly, there are data that show that Hospitalists are able to promote a culture of safety, and significantly improve patient safety outcomes in the hospital,� observes Dr. Khera.
As an academic Hospitalist, Dr. Khera is also responsible for teaching residents and physician assistants. Members of Saint Francis second hospitalist group, Pulmonary and Internal Medicine Associates, also hold teaching appointments.
The majority of Hospitalists are trained in internal medicine. Many are also board certified in pulmonary and critical care medicine.
A Hospitalist is located within the hospital, a benefit to patients who no longer have to wait for their personal physician to conduct rounds. A Hospitalist can check up on the patient as needed. If a change in condition occurs, a Hospitalist is there to expedite the necessary decisions for optimal care.
The Hospitalist program allows primary care physicians to spend more of their time and expertise in their offices seeing more patients. It also ensures that their hospitalized patients are being seen by physicians familiar with those patients evolving needs. This level of care raises the bar for the quality delivered both in the community and within the Hospital,� says Dr. Rolf Knoll, Senior Vice President for Medical Affairs.
Saint Francis is now in the third year of its experience with the Hospitalist practice model, and Drs. Khera and Teiger agree that communication is the key to success. The success of the program in the future will be measured by the strong communication that we have with referring physicians who appreciate that the successful care of their patients resides in team approach,� said Dr. Teiger.
Founded in 1897, Saint Francis is a major teaching hospital licensed for 617 acute inpatient beds and 65 bassinets and is the largest Catholic hospital in New England.
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