Inpatient Internists- BWH Bulletin - For and about the People of Brigham and Women's Hospital
Inpatient Internists- BWH Bulletin - For and about the People of Brigham and Women's Hospital
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November 3, 2000
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In This Issue:
Partners and Tufts Reach 3-Year Agreement
AMMP Awards 2000 Scholarship Recipients
November Calendar
Obituary: Karen Kaufman Becker
Dynamic Duo: A progress report 1998-2000
Time Line
Inpatient Internists
“Two hospitals working as one”
Are you ready for JCAHO?
Maintaining continual communication with patients and their many visitors, assisting medical residents with clinical questions and providing vital feedback on hospital systems are the main functions of a hospitalist as he or she orchestrates the care of inpatients. A year and a half ago, BWH extended its hospitalist program to the Faulkner campus and the now-expanded BW/F hospitalist program has two full-time hospitalists working on-site at Faulkner to meet the internal medicine needs of the hospital’s inpatients. “Having hospitalists at both hospitals helps facilitate the continuum of care between Faulkner and BWH,” said hospitalist Benny Gavi, MD, who is joined by one of the 12 other BW/F hospitalists—all familiar with both hospitals—on a rotating basis. Gavi describes the role of a hospitalist as an inpatient internist. When a patient is admitted to the hospital, the patient’s primary care physician communicates the patient’s condition and internal medicine needs to a hospitalist, who then assumes the management of that patient’s care as an inpatient. Two-way communication between the hospitalist and primary care physician allows a smooth transition of care back to the primary care physician upon discharge. Without dual responsibility to outpatient clinics, hospitalists are able to focus solely on inpatient care. This means they are in the hospital throughout the day and can be at the patient’s bedside at a moment’s notice to facilitate changes in care, expedite needed tests, discuss treatment and prognosis with different family members at different points during the day and work around the patient’s schedule. Similar to the accessibility witnessed by patients and families, medical residents can also find comfort in communicating with one on-site physician—answers to questions come quicker and the hospitalist is already familiar with the patient’s status. Being a consistent presence on the patient floors, BW/F hospitalists are often asked to sit on various hospital committees. “Our feedback is welcomed, valued and used to benefit patient care delivery,” said Gavi. The BW/F hospitalist program, directed by Sylvia McKean, MD, offers 24-hour coverage at both Faulkner and BWH and can be reached via beeper 66171. Other members of the BW/F hospitalist program include Drs. O'Neill Britton, Alice Chang, Kathleen Finn, David Handin, LeRoy Hicks, Jim Kim, Serena Koenig, Saverio Maviglia, Minal Patel, Jeff Rothschild and Chris Roy.