Hospitalists

Le Bonheur Children's Hospitalists Program

When your child is admitted to Le Bonheur Children's, your child's pediatrician or primary doctor may request that a specially trained physician, called a hospitalist, oversee your child's care during his or her stay in the hospital.

Le Bonheur Children’s has four board-certified hospitalists on staff. Hospitalists are pediatricians who work with a patient’s primary care physician to provide comprehensive medical care while the patient is hospitalized.

The program allows for:

• Access to experts in inpatient care
• Improved coordination of inpatient care
• Consistent communication with pediatricians
• Efficiency for pediatricians and hospital staff

Patients can be admitted directly to the hospitalist program, led by Medical Director Cynthia Cross, MD.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Hospitalist?
Hospitalists are pediatricians that specialize in caring for children in the hospital setting. Hospitalists work with your child’s pediatrician and other providers involved in your child’s care to deliver coordinated and comprehensive hospital care. In addition to hospitalists serving our patients, Le Bonheur Children's has a pediatric nurse practitioner that cares for our patients in the hospital. 

Why does Le Bonheur Children’s have hospitalists?
Our hospitalists are available to see your child every day or as needed throughout his or her hospital stay. They are also easily accessible to answer your questions and discuss your child's care. Because our hospitalists have extended hours, they can respond immediately to any emergencies that may arise. Our hospitalists are also very familiar with hospital practices and physicians at Le Bonheur Children’s. Because of their experience with complex illnesses and injuries, hospitalists can coordinate your child’s care easily and efficiently.

How do patients interact with hospitalists?
Since hospitalists practice on site in the hospital, they are present whenever the patient or family member has a question regarding care. Patients no longer need to wait until their physician makes rounds to get answers.

Also, because they're located in the hospital, hospitalists know how to expedite and improve care within that environment. They are familiar with all of the key individuals in the hospital, including medical and surgery consultants, discharge planners, clergy and others. In addition, hospitalists can better facilitate connections with post-acute providers, such as home health care, skilled nursing care, specialized rehabilitation and others.

If admitted, all aspects of the patient’s care will be managed by a hospitalist physician in coordination with the patient’s primary care provider.

Will my pediatrician know my child is receiving care in the hospital?
Yes, your child’s pediatrician will know that your child is in the hospital, and the hospitalist will communicate with your child’s pediatrician at admission, during the stay and before discharge.

Do the hospitalists have offices to see children outside of the hospital?
Our hospitalists are dedicated to caring for patients who are in the hospital. When your child returns home, your child’s pediatrician will resume caring for your child.

Will I see my pediatrician while my child is in the hospital?
You will see the hospitalist during your hospital stay, but your pediatrician will be working with the hospitalist to plan for your child’s needs upon discharge from the hospital. Your pediatrician will be kept informed of your child’s progress throughout his or her hospital stay.

What if my pediatrician does not practice at Le Bonheur Children’s?
Any pediatrician or primary doctor can refer patients to the hospitalist program at Le Bonheur Children’s for care. Hospitalists will keep your child’s pediatrician informed of your child’s progress throughout his or her hospital stay.

Find a pediatric hospitalist.