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Pediatric hospitalist services

Why are we being sent to the hospital?

Your child has a condition that your physician believes is best cared for or evaluated in a hospital by a health team with specialized training in the care of children.

What is a pediatric hospitalist?

Community Hospital North has a staff of specialized pediatricians available to manage the broad range of general pediatric issues. We call them pediatric hospitalists. These hospitalists serve as the primary physician for many children who are treated in our hospital. These specially trained pediatricians work in the hospital to care for pediatric patients.

Our pediatric hospitalists partner with each child's personal physician in delivering care while the child is in the hospital. To work as pediatric hospitalists, these specialists completed an additional three years of focused pediatric residency training beyond their regular medical school training. Our hospitalists' skills are focused on providing care for hospitalized children at Community Hospital North.

What can we expect during hospitalization?

Every child is unique, and so is his or her illness. While one child might require hospitalization for several days, another with the same illness might need just a short observation. In general, you should be prepared for an overnight stay.

Upon arrival in your room, a pediatric nurse will perform an initial assessment. This nurse has been trained on caring for children of all ages, from newborn to young adulthood. The nurse will tailor the care to what is age-appropriate and condition-specific for your child.

Next, the pediatric hospitalist will perform a history and physical and will work through a plan of care for your child. That plan might include diagnostic testing, such as blood and urine evaluations or x-ray and other types of imaging. It might consist of treatment with intravenous medicines or other interventions.

How will Community North make my child's stay more comfortable?

The pediatric unit at Community Hospital North was designed with input from parents and children. They told us they wanted a hospital with the technology and expertise needed to handle most pediatric illnesses, but they also wanted a non-threatening place where children would feel comfortable. Our pediatric unit provides children and their families with spacious, private suites complete with toys, Xbox 360 games and a place for parents to spend the night. If necessary, we can tap into our excellent relationships with physicians at other hospitals in the area. More about the Community North pediatric unit >>

How will my child's physician know about the details of the hospitalization?

Excellent communication is the hallmark of our hospitalist service. We have a conversation with your child's primary care physician at the time of admission, at key intervals during the hospital stay and at discharge. We also provide written hospitalization summaries after discharge, which detail testing, treatment and follow-up instructions. This serves as a reference for your primary care physician to continue the plan of care after your child leaves the hospital.

Will my child's physician come to the hospital?

Some physicians with nearby offices might stop in to chat with patients or to meet with our hospitalists. While this can be helpful at times, it is not generally needed or to be expected.

Which doctor will take care of my child after the hospitalization?

Your child returns to his or her regular doctor.