[estrogen]

Do you love them or hate them? Do you think they are doing a better job than general practiotioners, when it comes to a hospitalized patient?

I happened to love our hospitalists and I feel that in most cases the care of the hospitalized patient is better and more consistent when it's managed by a hospitalist, than by a general practice doctor. (Of course, there are excepions.)

I know that the big argument against hospitalists is that they don't know the patient as well as their regular doctor, that has been seeing them for years, but I have observed, that oftentimes the general practice docs are kind of lost once their patient ends up in a hospital. Many times, when taking an order over the phone, did I have to suggest ever so gently and cautiously: "Doctor, would you like to order some Potassium, since you're ordering 1oo mg of Lasix IV for your patient, NS @ 120/hour and his K level is allready borderline...?" This never seems to happen with hospitalists. After all they do this hunderds of times a day...

Please share your knowlege, experiences and opinions...

[hollyster]

I think hospitalist and intensevist are great. Much easier to reach and quicker to respond than GPs.

[gwenith]

All we have are "Hospitalists". Public hospital. Running the system right is getting GOOD communication between the two. One of the specialists I work for insists on the resident writing detailed and complete discharge summaries for the GP. But the dividends are tremendous. Follow up is fabulous.

[butterflynurse03]

Originally Posted by gwenith

All we have are "Hospitalists". Public hospital. Running the system right is getting GOOD communication between the two. One of the specialists I work for insists on the resident writing detailed and complete discharge summaries for the GP. But the dividends are tremendous. Follow up is fabulous.

We just started with hospitalists at our location and have only two. But let me tell you that yes, they are great. They listen to the nurses, they look more closely at the patient precisely because they do not know them, and they are quick to respond. I think it's a great idea. Especially as the regular docs not only have all the patients in the hospital, but the clinic, on call, etc.

[VivaLasViejas]

I ADORE our hospitalists. All three of them are warm, wise, wonderful, and they listen to us nurses. They also save us a lot of time, because they're always around and they write out their own discharge instructions and medication sheets! We are truly blessed!

[estrogen]

Wow, I think my hosp is progressive for once. We are a 250 bed hosp. (I guess you couldn't call it rural, but let's say small town) and we have seven hospitalists and three intensivists/pulmonologists... I have to say though, that the intensivist are by far not as nice to us med-surg nurses as the hospitalists. I guess they are too bussy saving lives in the ICU all the time, to remember to be nice, when someone from med-surg needs them once in a while... Our hospitalists though are the most atentive, warm, patient and kind doctors that I have ever experienced. Oftentimes I think o my self that it's actually a shame, that they don't have a practice, because my family and I would DEFINITELY be their faithfull patients...

[RNPATL]

We just put a hospitalist into place and the nurses and I love it. Easy to reach, nice to deal with and can get orders for the patient when you need them. Nice idea ... only wish the hospital has done this years ago.

[traumaRUs]

We have hospitalists and intensivists and like everyone else - we love them. They give consistent care to all patients.

[SarasotaRN2b]

Can someone please explain to this non-nurse what a hospitalist/internavist (sp?) is and does?

Kris

[estrogen]

Originally Posted by mccnrs2b

Can someone please explain to this non-nurse what a hospitalist/internavist (sp?) is and does?

Kris

Hospitalists don't have their own practice outside the hospital. They function solely within the hospital and take over the care of patients that are hospitalized. Intensivists are kind of the same thing, but they specialize in intesive care/critical patients...