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Gouverneur Hospital adding hospitalist program

Posted 1/23/17

GOUVERNEUR -- Gouverneur hospital is implementing a hospitalist program, which includes having doctors on staff to provide care for patients who have been admitted to the hospital. Hospitalists are …

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Gouverneur Hospital adding hospitalist program

Posted

GOUVERNEUR -- Gouverneur hospital is implementing a hospitalist program, which includes having doctors on staff to provide care for patients who have been admitted to the hospital.

Hospitalists are providers who specialize in care of hospitalized patients, also known as “acute patients,” because they are experiencing a sudden worsening of an existing condition or have suddenly developed a condition and have been admitted either through the emergency department or by their primary care provider. Hospitalists see the patient in the hospital, enabling the patient’s primary care provider to spend time with patients in the office setting. Dr. George Dodds will oversee the program.

“GH is fortunate to have Dr. George Dodds who has many years of experience in primary care and as a hospitalist,” said Dave Bender, CEO of Gouverneur Hospital.

Dr. Dodds has assisted with the implementation of the program, which includes staffing and oversight. He will be joined by Andy LaFrance, Family Nurse Practitioner who has many years of primary care experience, according to Bender. LaFrance has already been working with the hospitalists at Canton-Potsdam Hospital to orient to his new role.

Hospitalist use has increased in hospitals throughout the country as a way to address coverage issues created by the physician shortage and by changing work and lifestyle expectations of newly trained providers. Many new providers do not wish to take call and see hospitalized patients in addition to an outpatient workload. According to hospital officials, to not have a hospitalist program has become a serious recruitment impediment.

“[Gouverneur Hospital] will reap impressive benefits from having a hospitalist program, including standardization of care, reduction in length of stay, improved documentation, and improved nursing/provider ancillary communication,” noted Bender. “It will be an improvement for patients, the community, and providers,” she added.