Changes To Hospitalist Program at Penn Highlands Elk
The hospitalist program at Penn Highlands Elk is undergoing some changes designed to bring a higher level of service to inpatients. According to Penn Highlands’ chief medical officer, Dr. Gary DuGan, the program is evolving for the better.
A hospitalist is a physician who specializes in the care of hospitalized patients and their unique conditions. Because hospitalists do not maintain a practice outside of the hospital, they can focus all of their attention on patients inside the hospital. When a patient is admitted to the hospital, his or her primary care physician shares the patient’s condition and medical history with the hospitalist so he or she can effectively manage and treat the patient’s illness.