Hospitalists Program
(414) 337-7050
What is a pediatric hospitalist?
A pediatric hospitalist is a pediatrician who specializes in caring for hospitalized children. The hospitalist is located in the hospital and serves as the physician overseeing the child's hospitalization, and plans the discharge and return to the child's regular physician.
The benefits of utilizing a pediatric hospitalist include quick response to changes in a child's condition as they might occur throughout the course of a day, enhancing communications with patient and families as a result of being in the hospital, and the coordination of inpatient management of care that could involve several specialists. In many instances, the use of a hospitalist has resulted in a decreased length of stay.
Benefits for patients
The benefits to patients are numerous. Most important, high quality of care is available throughout the day or night, seven days a week. The patient sees a doctor as often as needed. Under traditional practices, patients might see their doctors once a day during their routine rounds.
More timely care is available because hospitalists are based at Children's Hospital and can make quicker decisions as situations arise. They can modify treatment or follow up on a test result on the spot, instead of waiting until the next day. This hands-on approach not only helps prevent medical complications, but also results in shorter hospital stays and lower costs. Hospitalists also can consult with the patient's family more readily.
Advantages to physicians
The Hospitalist Program at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin provides the primary care physician with an additional resource for managing the care of the hospitalized child. The hospitalist begins care either in the emergency department or with admission to the inpatient unit and serves as a link with the child and family and primary care physician to ensure that the hospital stay goes as planned.
Primary care physicians remain involved in the care of the child. They receive ongoing communication from the hospitalist to ensure continuity of care and follow-up. With the primary care physician, the hospitalist plans the discharge and needed follow-up care in the primary care physician's office.
Patient satisfaction increases as the child and family have the resources of the hospitalist and questions or concerns can be addressed immediately.
Pediatric Hospitalist team
Pediatric hospitalists respond to patient conditions during the course of the hospitalization, enhance communications with families and primary care physicians, and coordinate inpatient management of complex cases involving multiple specialists.
- Patricia S. Lye, MD, is listed in the 2007-2008 Best Doctors in America® database. The 40,000 U.S. physicians who make the list represent the top 3 to 5 percent of the nation's practicing board-certified physicians.
- Emily M. Densmore, MD
- Jennifer P. Freeto, MD
- Sandra L. Gage, MD, PhD
- Kirstin B. Kirschner, MD
- Nicole E. St. Clair, MD
- Heather L. Toth, MD, is listed in the 2007-2008 Best Doctors in America® database. The 40,000 U.S. physicians who make the list represent the top 3 to 5 percent of the nation's practicing board-certified physicians.
- Michael C. Weisgerber, MD
- Carrie Lee, MSN, APNP
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