Hospitalists are board-certified physicians, often specialists in internal medicine or family medicine, who care for hospitalized patients in collaboration with their patients' primary care physicians.

During your hospital stay, your primary care physician and hospitalist will work together on your treatment. When you are discharged, your hospitalist will discuss any further treatment needs with your primary care physician, help arrange follow-up and prescribe any necessary medications. He or she will also update your primary care physician with your latest hospital records.