LifeBridge Health�s Hospitalists are physicians who use their expertise to enhance the care of patients who are admitted to Sinai Hospital of Baltimore or Northwest Hospital Center in Baltimore county.

Hospitalists manage the healthcare of hospitalized patients. The work of the hospitalist includes both clinical and administrative tasks surrounding patient care.

Hospitalists spend the majority of their time managing patients in the hospital setting, offering 24-hour presence for the patient, and managing their care while in the hospital.  For the referring physician, LifeBridge Health hospitalists offer a high standard of care for the patient, plus a high level of communication of the patient�s status.

Physician Benefits

• Eliminate daytime, weekend and evening on-call responsibility for emergency admissions
• Delegate hospital rounds and hospital medical records responsibility
• Flexibility to consult, make social visits, or telephone hospitalized patients and family members as appropriate for each case
• Greater focus on outpatient and continuing education activities, preventive services and disease management
• Enhanced productivity by elimination of travel to and from the hospital

Patient Benefits

• Professional 24-hour care by highly trained physician specialists experienced in inpatient care
• Rapid diagnostic work ups
• Intense focus on patient education
• Convenient and prompt access to physicians for medical crises and  family conferences
• Discharge instructions regarding medications, activity, and when to schedule a follow-up visit with primary care physician

Services to Make Caring for Your Patients Easier

• Dedicated Phone Lines
  For Northwest Hospital Physicians: The access line--410-521-5121 provides direct and immediate access between physician offices and the Hospitalists at Northwest Hospital Center.  A 15-minute response time is guaranteed.  Dedicated fax line:  410-496-7518 .

For Sinai Hospital Physicians: The access number is 410-601-9000; beeper # 3333.  This number provides access between physician offices and the Hospitalists of Sinai Hospital.  Dedicated fax line:  410-601-5789

• Physician Education Forums
  For physicians and the Hospitalists to address physician concerns and discover how Hospitalist services can enhance physician practices.

Hospitalist Services

• Total Care for Hospitalized Patients: 24-hour care/7 days a week for patients admitted to either Sinai Hospital or Northwest Hospital Center, which includes admission of the patient, daily rounds, emergent problems and discharge summary, and consultation with PCP during patient�s stay, as indicated.
• Total Care for Hospitalized Patients During Selected Time Intervals:  Services same as above, but during designated time periods only.  Includes weekend coverage, vacation coverage and single night coverage.
• Inpatient Care of Selected Patients:  Care provided for individual inpatients such as those in Critical Care and Intensive Care that require specialized attention.  Many of these patients require multiple rounds each day.  The same services as mentioned above would be provided to only those patients selected by the physician.  Care of the patient reverts to the physician upon discharge, or at any time at the physician�s request.
• Emergency Room Call:  Coverage of Emergency Department obligations for call.  Patients will be evaluated, orders written and admission notes dictated.  The Hospitalists will bill for the patient�s admission.
• Consultative Services:  Medical consultations are available on demand seven days a week, 24-hours a day.  This includes elective pre-admission testing services and emergency pre-operative consultations.  Should the patient have an identified primary care physician with either Sinai or Northwest privileges, they will be afforded the opportunity to perform this service.
• Admission Services:  Admission and medical coverage for patients referred to surgeons, podiatrists, dentists, and medical sub-specialists when the patient does NOT have an identified either Sinai or Northwest primary physician.
• Specialized Procedures:  Hospitalists are available to perform a wide range of clinical procedures on an emergent or elective basis.  Examples are central line insertion, paracentesis and lumbar punctures.

How to participate 

If you would like to utilize the services of the Hospitalist program for your patients at Sinai or Northwest Hospital, or would like more information on the program, contact C. Ravi, M.D., Clinical Director of Hospitalist Services at 410-601-WELL (9355).

Hospitalist Staff        
Staffed by dedicated physicians, the Hospitalist Program operates under the following principles:

• Patients will return to the care of referring physician upon discharge.
• Physicians will receive reports and notification upon a patient�s admission, discharge and change of status.
• Referring physicians have access to patient information relevant to their stay.
• Hospitalists are available to patients and physicians 24-hours a day.

LifeBridge Health Hospitalists

Chaitanya K. Ravi, M.D.,
Clinical Director of Hospitalist Services
410-601-WELL (9355)