Hospitalist Program

MURPHY MEDICAL CENTER HOSPITALIST
When you are a patient at Murphy Medical Center, you can sleep better knowing there is a Hospitalist Program dedicated to helping you and your family.

WHAT IS A HOSPITALIST?
During your stay at Murphy Medical Center, members of the Hospitalist Service Team may take care of you and your family members. Hospitalists are medical doctors who specialize in the care of hospitalized patients; they medically manage every aspect of your hospital care. Hospitalists treat patients in the intensive care unit and medical surgical unit.

WHY ARE HOSPITALISTS TAKING CARE OF ME INSTEAD OF MY REGULAR DOCTOR?
With our hospitalist call schedule, hospitalists are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There are multiple hospitalists working at Murphy Medical Center. You might recognize some of them as physicians with private practices in our area. Whether your on-call hospitalist is a private practice physician or a full-time hospitalist, you can trust that he or she is available to immediately respond to test results, studies, or unexpected changes in your condition at any time, day or night.

The hospitalists are readily available to you and generally can respond quickly whenever you or a family member has a question or concern. You have the benefit of accessible, quality care all day, every day.

The Hospitalist Program affords physicians more time to focus on their patients during office visits. Through coordination with the hospitalists, your physician will be kept up-to-date on your care while you are in the hospital – allowing all your physicians to provide you with quality care and customer service.

WHAT OTHER BENEFITS DOES THE HOSPITALIST PROGRAM OFFER?
Murphy Medical Center hospitalists are familiar with the physicians on our staff, and those at surrounding referral hospitals, who provide specialized treatments and care. The hospitalists work closely with the nurses in our hospital to create trust, teamwork, and an atmosphere for quality patient care.

There is constant communication among the care team to ensure you are receiving the best treatment possible. This process is similar to the way your family physician communicates with the hospital staff and specialists when you need additional tests or treatments.

HOW WILL MY DOCTOR KNOW WHAT CARE I RECEIVED WHILE I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL?
When you check out of the hospital, a detailed report will be sent to your family physician describing the treatment you received in the hospital including any further health care needs you might have. The hospitalists will provide you with any prescriptions you may need. They will also arrange your follow-up appointment with your primary care physician so all necessary treatment may continue.

WILL I CONTINUE TO SEE THE HOSPITALISTS FOR CARE AFTER I LEAVE THE HOSPITAL?
Because our hospitalists take care of you only while you are in the hospital, you will not see them for outpatient care once you leave Murphy Medical Center. You will continue seeing your regular primary care physician. If you did not have a primary care physician prior to your admission to the hospital, you will be referred to one of our community physicians.