Understanding Your Care During a Hospital Stay
If you or a loved one is admitted to the hospital, you may hear a new term for the doctor overseeing your care: a hospitalist.
A hospitalist is a physician who specializes in caring for patients while they are in the hospital. They manage your overall treatment, monitor your progress and coordinate with specialists and other members of your health care team.
“As hospitalists, we look at the whole picture. Our job is not only to treat the condition that brought you to the hospital, but also to coordinate your care, answer your questions and help you safely transition home,” said Sriranjini Ramaswamy, MD, a hospitalist at Snoqualmie Valley Health.
What Does a Hospitalist Do?
Your hospitalist serves as a central part of your care team throughout your hospital stay.
Their responsibilities may include:
- Reviewing your medical history, symptoms and test results
- Diagnosing medical conditions and developing a treatment plan
- Monitoring changes in your condition
- Explaining your care and answering questions from you and your family
- Coordinating with specialists and, when needed, your regular outpatient providers
- Determining when you are medically ready to leave the hospital
- Working with your care team to plan a safe discharge
- Reviewing medications and providing follow-up instructions
Hospitalists are dedicated to caring for hospitalized patients. Physicians are also available overnight and on call, so medical care continues when your regular hospitalist is not working.
Common Questions During a Hospital Stay
Why are my medications different from what I take at home?
You may receive medications at different times in the hospital because hospitals use standardized schedules to help nurses safely coordinate medications.
You may also notice that a medication itself looks different. Hospital pharmacies don’t carry every medication or brand available outside the hospital, so your usual medication may sometimes be replaced with an appropriate alternative.
Do not take medications brought from home unless your hospital care team has approved them.
“If something about your medications looks different from what you do at home, please ask us. There is usually a reason for the change, and we want you to understand your treatment,” Ramaswamy said.
Why is my diet different?
Your hospitalist may order a specific diet based on your medical needs. For example, you may need to limit sodium (salt) or carbohydrates to help manage blood pressure, blood sugar or another health condition while you recover.
What does “code status” mean?
Code status tells your health care team what types of lifesaving treatment you would or would not want if your heart stopped or you stopped breathing.
While it can be a difficult subject, discussing code status helps your care team understand your wishes if your condition unexpectedly becomes more serious. Your doctor can explain your options and answer any questions you have.
Will my primary care provider know what happened?
Yes. When you leave the hospital, a discharge summary is prepared with important information about your hospital stay, including your diagnosis, treatment and medication changes. This information is shared with your primary care provider and may also be available through MyChart.
Your hospitalist may prescribe medications you need immediately after discharge. Your primary care provider or specialist will generally manage ongoing prescriptions after your follow-up appointment. Your hospital care team will tell you when you should schedule that visit.
Your Questions Are Always Welcome
“One of the most important things I want patients to know is that questions are always welcome. Understanding your care is part of your care. If something doesn’t make sense, please ask us,” Ramaswamy said.
A hospital stay can involve nurses, physicians, specialists, pharmacists, therapists, care managers and many others. Your hospitalist helps bring those pieces together, with the goal of helping you recover and transition safely out of the hospital.