HaysMed Welcomes New Hospitalist
Hays, KS (Oct 5, 2017) – Dr. Patrick “Scott” Atkinson, Hospitalist, has joined the Medical Staff of HaysMed, part of The University of Kansas Health System.
Dr. Atkinson completed medical school at Oklahoma State University Center for health Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine. He did an internal medicine residency at the Tahlequah Medical Group Teaching Health Center, Tahlequah, Oklahoma. He is board certified in general internal medicine.
Dr. Atkinson joins the Hospitalist Team at HaysMed consisting of Drs. Kayla Gray, Erin Hemphill, Manoj Suryanarayanan and Brenda Weese, DNP, APRN-C , Anissa Sonntag, APRN-C and Susie Pfannenstiel, APRN-C.
Hospitalists are physicians who are specialized in the care of patients while they are in the hospital. In the past a patient’s primary care physician provided care for their patient both in the clinic and while they were hospitalized. Hospitalists have assumed the role of providing care while a patient is hospitalized.
They are also continually in contact with the patient’s primary care physician, keeping them updated on the patient’s status. When patients are ready to be discharged the hospitalists help transition them back to the care of their primary physician.
HaysMed was one of the first hospitals in the area to implement a hospitalist program. “With all the changes in health care the demands on a primary care physician’s time didn’t always allow the extra hours in the day to make hospital visits,” said Bryce Young, Chief Operating Officer at HaysMed.
“By using Hospitalists patients are assured that a physician is in the hospital 24/7 to address and direct the patient’s care.”
Hospitalists are well suited to oversee and coordinate inpatient treatment and ensure hospitalized patients receive appropriate care. Since these physicians are based within the hospital, they are more readily available to consult with physicians, nurse and administrators, meet with family members and keep patients updated on their care.
Along with managing patient care, hospitalist help enhance quality and efficiency within the hospital. The help develop new procedures to provide better patient care, provide safety and reduce expenses.
