A group of five talented people make a pretty great team- just ask any basketball coach. Beloit Memorial Hospital is pleased to now have a complete team of five Hospitalists to fully care for inpatients at the hospital.

Dr. Shawn Antle was the first Hospitalist when Beloit began its program in April, 2008. As of mid-February the hospital recruited a full team of Hospitalists who are now covering medical/surgical patients 24 hours a day/7 days a week.

"The Hospitalists will cover about 80% of the hospital's inpatient volume," explains Dr. Antle. "Some specialists like Ortho, OB, or Pediatrics continue to see their patients, but overall we go everywhere and see most everyone- whether it's an ER admission or a scheduled one."

With a full team of Hospitalists, a patient will usually have the same doctor throughout their stay since the Hospitalists work on a seven-day cycle. In a community the size of Beloit, Dr. Antle says he is getting to know some of his patients and their families. "We are in the hospital all day long, so this gives us an opportunity to answer questions the family may have and spend more time in follow-up.

"Another goal we have is to work with the social service team and discharge planners so that we can get the patient home more efficiently. We have already reduced our average length of stay by one day since last spring which reflects the quality of care and overall performance of the program."

Doris Mulder, vice president of the hospital indicates the Hospitalist program has been a great patient satisfier. "We have been able to recruit some of the most talented doctors available with expertise in infectious disease, critical care, and Hospitalist management," she adds. "The cohesive communication between the Clinic, the hospital staff, and the Hospitalists has been very impressive. I know our patients are finding the new program to their liking."

Hospitalists are doctors who specialize in the care of hospitalized patients. They take charge of your care while you are hospitalized and partner with your primary care doctor after your discharge.