Pediatric Hospitalists
The Pediatric hospitalist program at Washington Hospital was started in
July 2003 and is now staffed by general pediatricians who are affiliated
with UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital. Pediatric hospitalists at Washington
Hospital are all board-certified general pediatricians who have completed
a three-year residency in Pediatrics.
The program currently has seven hospitalists and covers the in-patient
service 24/7. The group covers approximately 65 percent of in-patients
and and provides care to approximately 98 percent of pediatric patients.
The hospitalists at Washington Hospital provide general pediatric care
for in-patients and Emergency Department patients whose primary physicians
do not have admitting privileges at Washington Hospital or have contracted
with the hospital to use the services of the hospitalists group. The hospitalists
remain in close contact with the patient’s pediatrician throughout
the hospital stay, especially on admission and at the time of discharge
from the hospital so that excellent continuity of care is provided. The
Pediatric hospitalist provides care in the following areas:
- inpatient care for a 12-bed pediatric unit;
- necessary consultations in the Emergency Department
- in-patient consults on surgical patients
- newborns in the well baby nursery
- Coverage for the Level 2 Washington Special Care Nursery overnight with
back up by a Neonatologist.
The goal of this program is to provide outstanding evidence-based pediatric
in-patient care and to enable hospitalized sick children to be taken care
off in their community thus remaining closer to home.
Pediatric hospitalists are working on projects such as improving lactation
services at Washington Hospital; supporting Washington Hospital's
Baby-friendly designation; improving quality of care to all hospitalized
children with asthma and newborns on the birthing center; fostering "Family
Centered Care" at Washington Hospital.