Hospitalists
Community Memorial’s hospitalist physicians provide care to patients who have been admitted to Community Memorial Hospital – Ventura, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. They provide direct care to patients who are admitted at night or have a sudden change in condition that requires immediate medical treatment. You or a loved one may be admitted to the hospital in one of three ways:
- By physician referral
- Through the Emergency Department
- By transfer from another hospital
What is a Hospitalist?
A hospitalist is a physician who focuses exclusively on the care of hospitalized patients. Our team of hospitalists may be caring for you or your family member at the request of your primary care physician, or because you do not have a primary care physician.
Most hospitalists are internal medicine physicians who have extensive knowledge of all hospital departments and experience caring for patients who are acutely ill, have multiple medical problems, or are recovering from surgeries and procedures.
Hospitalist Responsibilities
During your stay at Community Memorial Hospital, our hospitalists will develop and implement a care plan to meet your individual needs. They are available to explain your diagnosis or condition, review test results, and address your questions or concerns. You may see more than one hospitalist during your stay, but they will provide each other with detailed information on your condition and treatment plan prior to transitioning care. The major responsibilities of our hospitalists include:
- Coordinating your care team, including specialists, nurses, therapists, case managers, and more.
- Communicating with your primary care physician and specialists as needed.
- Keeping you informed about your diagnosis, treatment plan, tests, procedures, medications, and any necessary follow-up care.
- Answering your questions, addressing your concerns, and serving as your advocate while you are a patient in our hospital.
- Staying in communication with your designated family member or caregiver should you be unconscious or unable to communicate.
- Planning for your discharge and providing any follow-up care instructions, as needed.
Communicating with Family Members
Even if you’re young and healthy, it’s a good idea to designate a point person who can be kept informed by your hospitalist and care team in the event that you are unable to understand your treatment plan or communicate for yourself. This allows one person to serve as a liaison between your care team and your family members. You can learn more about how to formally designate a point person in our Advance Care Planning video series, but usually, it’s your spouse or a family member. If needed, your hospitalist will provide your liaison with regular updates on your condition and treatment plan. He or she will also answer any questions your liaison may have. The hospitalist’s regular daily visit is the best time for these conversations, but our hospitalists can follow up via phone if your point person is not available during rounds.
