Hospitalist Program

When patients are admitted to The Medical Center at Franklin, their doctor may ask that a group of physicians, called hospitalists, oversee their care. Hospitalists are available to care for patients of local physicians who have decided to limit their practices to outpatient medicine, patients with out-of-town physicians, and patients who do not have an established primary care physician.

What are hospitalists?

Hospitalists are doctors who devote their practice to the specialized care of hospitalized patients. They are trained in Family Practice, General Medicine, Geriatrics, or Internal Medicine. The hospitalist manages your care through the hospital, closely monitoring your progress, and staying in close touch with you, your family and your doctor.

Who are the hospitalists at The Medical Center at Franklin?

How does the hospitalist program work?

Because hospitalists practice solely at The Medical Center at Franklin, your hospitalist is never more than a few minutes away. The hospitalist will be in charge of your care and will see you every day to direct treatment.

The hospitalist will arrange for any prescriptions you may need upon discharge from the hospital, and you will be given instructions regarding follow-up appointments with your primary care doctor or other doctors. Your hospital records will be in your primary care doctor’s hands well before your first follow-up visit. Hospital Care Consultants will bill your insurance company for their services. They will bill you for your portion of the service (deductibles and co-payments), if any.

How does the hospitalist know about me?

At the time of your admission to The Medical Center at Franklin, your primary care physician calls the hospitalist and informs him or her of your condition, and sends records to provide information about your illness. The process is similar to what your primary care physician does when he refers you to a specialist for another opinion or additional tests or treatment.