Overview

Find a Physician

Locations

For Physicians

Shands Jacksonville began a hospitalist program staffed by University of Florida faculty physicians specializing in Internal Medicine and Family Practice in 2000 in an effort to meet the growing demand for inpatient care. In 2005, this program matured into a formal University of Florida Division of Hospital Medicine. With an average daily census of 130, this division now provides care for 25 percent of these patients, making it an essential inpatient care service. Hospital Medicine currently employees 17 clinicians and anticipates further growth.

The University of Florida physicians in the Division of Hospital Medicine provide a continuum of inpatient care, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at Shands Jacksonville. While specialists may be consulted for subspecialty care, the hospitalist follows the patient from soon after admission until they are discharged. The hospitalist brings together medical details, such as lab results, procedure outcomes and specialists, in order to provide the patient with coordinated, quality care.

The hospitalist provides a valuable service to community physicians who, in the past, would visit their patients during their hospital stay, but in recent years have been unable to do this on a regular basis and may become out of touch with their patients' status. The hospitalist is an extension for community physicians, visiting patients and keeping the physicians updated.