Thomas McKinley, MD, Director, Hospitalist Progam
740.393.9947
Hospitalists are one of the most rapidly growing forms of medical care in the United States.
For more information on Hospitalists, visit the website of The Society of Hospital Medicine at www.hospitalmedicine.org.
|  |  Hospital medicine is the discipline concerned with the general medical care of hospitalized patients. The term “hospitalist” is relatively new, first used in 1996 to refer to physicians whose primary professional focus is hospital medicine. Simply, a Hospitalist is a physician who specializes in caring for patients while they are in the hospital. Most Hospitalists are internal medicine physicians with a special interest and training in the care of acute illness that requires hospital care.
WHAT IS HOSPITAL MEDICINE?
Hospital medicine is the discipline concerned with the general medical care of hospitalized patients. The term “hospitalist” is relatively new, first used in 1996 to refer to physicians whose primary professional focus is hospital medicine. Simply, a Hospitalist is a physician who specializes in caring for patients while they are in the hospital. Most Hospitalists are internal medicine physicians with a special interest and training in the care of acute illness that requires hospital care.
Knox Community Hospital began a hospital medicine program this summer, to assist the primary care physicians on our staff. Allowing a Hospitalist to care for their inpatients enables them to spend more time in their offices. That may allow them to see more patients.
WHEN WILL I SEE A HOSPITALIST?
Primary care physicians who participate in the Hospitalist program will refer their patients to a Hospitalist when their care requires admission to the hospital. (This is similar to being referred to a surgeon for surgical care.) During your hospital stay, you will be seen by a Hospitalist. You will follow up with your regular doctor soon after discharge from the hospital.
WHOM WILL I SEE?
THOMAS McKINLEY, MD
Director, Hospitalist Progam | 
JEFFERY BOWERS, MD
Hospitalists |
LAURA MURNANE, MD
Hospitalist | 
DAVID WIRTZ, MD
Hospitalist |
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