One example of a hospitalist sub-group is our chronic inpatient service. This team was created within the last year to care for a subset of longer-term patients who are managed independently by two nurse practitioners in collaboration with Dr. Houser and Marc Aldrich, MD. The goal of the chronic team service is to provide continuity of care for patients and families, with a reduced length of stay. Many are difficult-to-place patients who have few family or material resources, live in rural locations, have dialysis needs, have wound-healing issues, are quadriplegic, etc. This team is supported by a dedicated pharmacist and social worker who meet with providers daily to analyze therapy, set goals, and measure progress.
Ongoing projects for the entire group include developing a comanagement model with the orthopedic and neurosurgery inpatient service, continuing to optimize computer order entry, exploring outreach to community physicians and facilities, and visiting other HM programs to learn more about geographical models.
In such a varied and rural location, the HM program at RCRH continues to grow and adapt to meet the challenges. Feel free to visit; you will be one of millions.
Rita McGauvran, hospitalist, nurse practitioner, Rapid City (S.D.) Regional Hospital