Medical Care of Hospitalized Patients

Hospitalists practice hospital medicine, which is the discipline concerned with the general medical care of hospitalized patients. Patients who are admitted through the Emergency Department (ED) and do not have a primary care physician are usually seen by a hospitalist for the duration of their stay with us.

About our Hospitalists

The term "hospitalist" was first used by Dr. Robert Wachter in an article written in the New England Journal of Medicine in 1996.

Hospital medicine, like emergency medicine, is a specialty organized around a site of care (the hospital), rather than an organ (like cardiology), a disease (like oncology), or a patient's age (like pediatrics).

However, unlike medical specialists in the emergency department or critical care units, most hospitalists help manage patients throughout the continuum of hospital care, often seeing patients in the ED, admitting them to inpatient units, following them as necessary into the critical care unit, and organizing post-acute care.

Our first hospitalist program has been in place since 1998 and has been successful in improving patient care.

Currently, OSF Little Company of Mary Hospitalists treat Internal Medicine, Pediatrics and OB/Gyn patients.

After leaving the hospital, you may have questions about your recovery or need additional support. You can stay connected to your care team for up to 30 days after discharge through an easy-to-use app. You will receive a link to download the app via email or text. The app can also be accessed through OSF MyChart.

The app allows you to:

• Ask questions and receive responses from their care team.
• Access educational materials related to their recovery.
• Schedule follow-up appointments.

This service is available 24/7 to help you heal at home, giving you peace of mind as you recover. Whether you need guidance on managing symptoms, understanding medications or scheduling follow-up care, support is just a message away.