Hospitalists focus on the treatment of hospitalized patients

Hospitalists, also known as inpatient medicine physicians, provide care upon your hospital admission and continues the care during your stay. The hospitalist handles admissions, coordinates diagnostic tests, works with your primary care physician and helps with your discharge.

Baylor Scott & White Hospital Medicine serves patients across Texas

Baylor Scott & White Hospital Medicine is designed to benefit patients by managing transitions of care and meeting the general medical needs of patients during the course of their stay in our hospitals across Texas. Your safe, efficient, quality hospital care requires teamwork, and we will work together to provide you with the best possible care.

Benefits of hospitalist care:

  • Prompt admission and treatment
  • Individualized patient-centered care
  • Increased communication between the patient, their primary care physician and their family members
  • Improved quality of care
  • Timely recovery

Services we provide

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  • Inpatient care

    Inpatient care

    When a patient enters a hospital, a Baylor Scott & White Hospital Medicine hospitalist may be appointed by the patient’s primary care physician to assume the role of attending physician for the length of their hospital stay.

    Aspects of hospitalist care might include:

    • Coordinating hospital admission
    • Arranging diagnostic testing and specialty consultations
    • Explaining findings and discussing recommendations with patients
    • Orchestrating all inpatient care Securing post-hospitalization services
    • Providing medical care for patients who need surgical treatment
    • Managing urgent situations that may arise during the hospitalization

    Our hospitalists are available to care for patients 24 hours per day, seven days a week in our hospitals across North and Central Texas.

  • Preoperative care clinic (Dallas only)

    Preoperative care clinic (Dallas only)

    The Dallas Preoperative Care Clinic assists surgeons to provide patients with high-quality, evidence-based perioperative management services in anticipation of a surgical procedure.

    Perioperative management services focus on addressing the surgical needs of patients diagnosed with chronic and/or complex medical illnesses so that surgical complications can be avoided.

    Specific preoperative care services in Dallas include:

    • Medication reconciliations
    • Pre-surgery testing: EKG, radiologic studies, laboratory testing
    • Risk assessment for
      • Myocardial infarctions
      • Urinary retention
      • Delirium
      • Obstructive sleep apnea
      • Blood clots
      • Excessive bleeding

    Upon completion of the perioperative evaluation, the attending physician will communicate the patient’s risk stratification for surgery or need for additional testing.

    In addition, patients admitted to surgery at Baylor University Medical Center, part of Baylor Scott & White Health or Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Uptown are monitored upon their arrival to the respective facilities Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU).

    Dallas Preoperative Care Clinic physicians are available for outpatient consultations Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM.

Inpatient care

When a patient enters a hospital, a Baylor Scott & White Hospital Medicine hospitalist may be appointed by the patient’s primary care physician to assume the role of attending physician for the length of their hospital stay.

Aspects of hospitalist care might include:

  • Coordinating hospital admission
  • Arranging diagnostic testing and specialty consultations
  • Explaining findings and discussing recommendations with patients
  • Orchestrating all inpatient care Securing post-hospitalization services
  • Providing medical care for patients who need surgical treatment
  • Managing urgent situations that may arise during the hospitalization

Our hospitalists are available to care for patients 24 hours per day, seven days a week in our hospitals across North and Central Texas.

Preoperative care clinic (Dallas only)

The Dallas Preoperative Care Clinic assists surgeons to provide patients with high-quality, evidence-based perioperative management services in anticipation of a surgical procedure.

Perioperative management services focus on addressing the surgical needs of patients diagnosed with chronic and/or complex medical illnesses so that surgical complications can be avoided.

Specific preoperative care services in Dallas include:

  • Medication reconciliations
  • Pre-surgery testing: EKG, radiologic studies, laboratory testing
  • Risk assessment for
    • Myocardial infarctions
    • Urinary retention
    • Delirium
    • Obstructive sleep apnea
    • Blood clots
    • Excessive bleeding

Upon completion of the perioperative evaluation, the attending physician will communicate the patient’s risk stratification for surgery or need for additional testing.

In addition, patients admitted to surgery at Baylor University Medical Center, part of Baylor Scott & White Health or Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Uptown are monitored upon their arrival to the respective facilities Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU).

Dallas Preoperative Care Clinic physicians are available for outpatient consultations Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM.

What to expect

The hospitalist team will be in charge of your care and will see you every day to direct your treatment while you are in the hospital. Available to you and your family to answer questions and discuss your care, the hospitalist works at the hospital full-time to provide for your care and attend to any emergencies that may arise.

Depending on your specific needs, the hospitalist may consult other doctors to participate in your care. Patients will also have access to a multidisciplinary team of nurse practitioners and physician assistants on our allied health professional staff. In addition, nutritionists, nurses and social workers are available to address all aspects of your care, including helping with insurance matters and social service needs.

The hospitalist will coordinate arrangements for any prescriptions or care that you may need after you are discharged, such as physical therapy or home health visits. You will be asked to make an appointment with your primary care doctor, or other doctors, soon after discharge.

The hospitalist will partner and communicate with your primary care physician (PCP) who will continue to provide care after your discharge. You may contact the hospitalist after discharge if you have any questions about your hospital stay.

  • Why is a hospitalist caring for me?

    By handing your care over to a hospitalist, your primary care physician is able to be more available to you in the office rather than trying to go back and forth between seeing patients in the office and in the hospital.

    One of our qualified hospitalists will be in charge of your care during your hospital stay. This way you have the benefit of being seen by a doctor who is entirely focused on the care of hospitalized patients.

    If you are in the hospital for many days, you may see more than one hospitalist.

  • What is the relationship between the hospitalist and my primary care physician?

    The hospitalist and primary care physician are true partners in your care.

    Your primary care physician will provide information about your past health history to the hospitalist, and the two physicians will discuss any significant findings or events.

    At the time of your admission and discharge, the hospitalist prepares a detailed report of findings and treatment plans that is sent to your primary care physician.

    When you are discharged, you will return to the care of your primary care doctor.

  • What if I need another specialist while in the hospital?

    The hospitalist will arrange for any of your specialty care needs if necessary.

    If you have already been seeing other doctors elsewhere, be sure to let us know so that we can keep them informed about your hospital stay.

  • What if I don't have a regular primary care physician?

    The hospitalist or other hospital staff can assist in finding a physician for you. Records from your hospital stay can be made available to your new physician.

    If you would like to speak with one of the hospitalists while you or a member of your family is in the hospital, it is best to ask the nurse caring for you to page the doctor.

Hospitalists provide care at the following locations