Tri-State Memorial’s Hospitalist Program is dedicated to inpatient care.  By partnering with physicians from the community, Hospitalist physicians share in the care of patients during their hospital stays. Advantages to the Hospitalists program include:

• Hospitalist physicians are available at Tri-State Memorial 24 hours a day, 7 days a week;
• Hospitalist physicians are available throughout the day for family or patient concerns;
• Timely diagnostic interpretations ensure no delay in medical decision making;
• Prompt and appropriate communication with your primary care physician during the inpatient stay ensures a smooth transition to follow-up care following hospital discharge.

Hospitalist physicians provide a number of vital services at Tri-State Memorial, depending on what would best serve the needs of the patient:

• Care for patients who are admitted through the Emergency Department;
• Admission and care of patients who are admitted by their primary physicians to the hospital;
• Consultations for medical conditions for patients under sub-specialty care (such as an Orthopedic Surgery patient);
• Transfers from facilities outside Tri-State Memorial’s service area;
• Hospitalists services are provided to patients 18 years of age or older.

If your primary physician utilizes Hospitalist services for your inpatient admission, you can be confident that your primary care physician will be informed of the details of your stay – from admission through discharge.  It is the goal of the Hospitalist program to get patients healthy and back to their own doctors for follow-up care, as quickly as possible.

If you have any questions, please contact the Tri-State Hospitalist office at (509)758-5511 ext 2025.

What is a Hospitalist?

A Hospitalist is a physician who specializes in the care of hospitalized patients and practices in the hospital, not an office. Hospitalists are trained in Internal Medicine, and are well versed in the unique needs of hospitalized patients.

What is the role of a Hospitalist during my inpatient stay?

The Hospitalist’s job is to help stabilize and then improve your health as quickly as possible.  Hospitalists coordinate care with a team of nurses, specialists and other healthcare professionals to provide prompt, personal attention.

How do the Hospitalists work with my physician?

If your primary physician – or out of area physician – utilize the Hospitalist services for your inpatient stay, communication with your primary physician will occur from admission to discharge.  The Hospitalist will also communicate with any specialist physician, as applicable. 

What are the benefits of having a Hospitalist?

A Hospitalist is available at Tri-State Memorial Hospital 24 hours a day. Hospitalists offer not only compassionate but timely care.  Whether you have a question or you need urgent medical attention, Hospitalists are available to meet your needs. Hospitalists are devoted to the care of hospitalized patients, which means they are available for personal discussions with you about your care. Hospitalists are specialists in the care of hospitalized patients much the same way that cardiologists are specialists in the care of the heart.

What changes can I expect during a hospital stay?

If a Hospitalist is assigned to you, the most obvious change will be that your primary care physician will not be providing the inpatient care, the Hospitalist will.  Hospitalists manage all aspects of the patients care from time of admission until discharge from the hospital.  They see patients in the ER, on the Medical/Surgical floor, in ICU’s as well as in the hospital based transitional/swing bed units.

How will I be billed for the Hospitalist service?

If a Hospitalist physician sees you while at Tri-State, you will receive separate charges for the inpatient physician and/or consultative services from this service.  This bill/statement will come from a company called Gage Inpatient Services.  A contact phone number and web site for billing questions is provided on each bill and statement.

After I am discharged, and before I see my regular physician in his/her office for a post-hospital visit, who do I call should I have a question?

During your admission and thru discharge, contact the Hospitalists with your questions. After discharge, contact your primary care physician.  Remember, our Hospitalists provide information throughout your inpatient stay to your regular physician.  Your physician should therefore be able to answer your questions.

What if I do not have a regular physician?

When a patient does not have a regular physician and has a medical condition that requires hospitalization, the patient will be seen by the Hospitalists staff while an inpatient. Prior to discharge, any needed referrals, and a post-hospital follow-up appointment with an area physician will be coordinated.

How long have Hospitalist programs been around?

Tri-State Memorial Hospital began its Hospitalist program early in 2006; however, the Hospitalist trend began nation-wide in the mid 1990’s.  Hospital (Hospitalist) Medicine is now the fastest growing medical specialty in the country and is expected to continue to grow rapidly.  Most leading hospitals in the country offer a Hospitalist program.