‘Central Hub’ a Key to Whole-Body Care for Hospital Patients

As a hospitalist, you’re in a unique position to work with a patient’s own medical team as you coordinate care for inpatients.

“Hospitalists not only diagnose and treat patients but also serve as a central hub, coordinating care with other specialists and the healthcare team,” said Abhishek Kumar, MD, chief of vascular and interventional radiology at University Hospital and an associate professor in the Department of Radiology at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, both in Newark, New Jersey.

How to Explain Your Role to Patients

Patients often aren’t familiar with the role of a hospitalist. Kumar offers these thoughts to explain how you’re there to help a patient.

“My role is to oversee all aspects of your care while you’re in the hospital,” he said. “I’ll be your primary point of contact, and I work closely with other specialists to make sure everything is coordinated. You may see other doctors for specific issues, but I’ll be the one making sure all your treatments and tests are aligned, and I’ll keep you updated every step of the way.”

Kumar shared accolades for the role of hospitalists. “They are often unsung heroes in the hospital,” explained Kumar. While specialists play a vital role in addressing specific medical issues, hospitalists bring everything together.”

How Hospitalists Personalize Patient Care

Personalizing care begins with prioritizing communications, Kumar said.

“Oftentimes, specialists such as myself are not able to spend time with the patient outside the procedure suite, however hospitalists can personalize care by asking each patient what they need. For some patients, this may entail explaining a specific procedure, for others it may be discharge planning and placement to rehab.”

To effectively reassure patients you are managing their care while they’re hospitalized, Kumar suggested considering these directives:

• Practice open and frequent communication with patients.
• Check in with patients after they return from a test or procedure.
• Reiterate your role to the patient when you meet them.
• Ensure patients understand that you work on site and are available.

Hospitalist Can Give Patients Advantages

The primary advantage of your role is continuity and consistency in care.

“With the hospitalist as a constant point of contact, patients can be sure that there’s someone overseeing every aspect of their treatment,” said Kumar. “You can make quick decisions and are available to make adjustments when needed.” This is especially important in complex cases where multiple specialists are involved, as it ensures that all providers are aligned in the patient’s care, he noted.

Hospitalists are also patient advocates, said Abel G. Joy, MD, associate chief, Division of Hospitalist and General Internal Medicine, University of Maryland Medical Center, and assistant professor of medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, both in Baltimore. “We track progress in real time by adjusting treatments throughout the day as test results return or symptoms change,” Joy said. “By overseeing the full course of hospitalization, we ensure that patients don’t get lost in a maze of different providers. We support family involvement.”

Hospitalists are often the point person for family meetings to clarify the plan and discuss prognosis, he said.

Joy provided some directives to personalize patient care:

• Have daily team huddles and multidisciplinary rounds to evaluate patients’ cases.
• Help patients understand their choices and treatments, with the ability to speak with them at bedside with their specialist.

How to Direct Inpatients to Other Resources

Your unique position makes you a central point of contact. Joy provided some services that can be directed:

Nutrition. Hospitalists consult dietitians to assist with diabetes, heart failure, malnutrition, or dietary restrictions.

Social work/case management. Hospitalists coordinate with them for discharge planning, home services, rehab placement, and financial assistance.

Physical/occupational therapy. Hospitalists consult therapy to evaluate mobility, safety, and readiness for discharge to home or to an appropriate rehab facility.

Speech therapy. Hospitalists consult speech therapy for swallowing evaluations and cognitive assessments.