Pediatric Hospitalist Program

The Pediatric Hospitalist Program offers high-quality medical care for infants, children, and adolescents during their stay at All Children's Hospital.

Our team of dedicated pediatricians provides onsite care to our patients 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days per year. We specialize in the care of of sick children who require treatment in the hospital. Together, we work with our patients, their families, specialists, and other providers to provide a family-centered and comprehensive approach to patient care.

The ACH Hospitalist Team

View the ACH Hospitalists

The All Children's Hospitalists are a team of board certified pediatricians with diverse backgrounds who are passionate about caring for hospitalized children.

All Children's is a teaching hospital. Therefore, our Hospitalists work with a team of medical students, physician assistant students, residents, and fellows at various stages of training. We supervise these trainees directly at all times. Therefore, the Hospitalists are the "attending physician" or "physician in charge" and are ultimately responsible for your child's care.

What is a Pediatric Hospitalist?

A Pediatric Hospitalist is a pediatrician who works primarily in a hospital setting. At All Children's, our hospitalists practice exclusively in the hospital setting.

We care for patients from birth to 21 years of age with a variety of medical conditions. Our group primarily cares for patients in the Clinical Decision Unit and on the medical-surgical floors, but may be involved in the care of patients across all areas in the hospital.

What Kind of Training Does a Hospitalist Have?

A Pediatric Hospitalist is a board certified doctor (M.D. or D.O.) that has completed at least:

• Four years of medical school, and

• Three years of pediatric residency training

Benefits of Using the ACH Hospitalists

Hospitalists focus solely on the care of hospitalized children. We therefore have a great deal of experience in the unique aspects of patients' needs during the hospital stay.

• Hospitalists provide a familiar and consistent approach to inpatient care.
• We are able to react to situations promptly, because one of our team members is in the hospital 24/7.
• We can modify treatment plans, follow up test results, and update your family as new information becomes available.
• Hospitalists programs have been shown to help prevent medical complications, reduce hospital stays, and lower health care costs.
• As the physician responsible for coordinating discharge, our Hospitalists will help you prepare for your transition back home. We specialize in proactively identifying any potential needs unique to your child, and will help your family access any medications, resources, and/or services necessary to facilitate ongoing care after discharge.

• We will communicate with your primary care physician and specialists to optimally coordinate care.

What Medical Conditions does a Hospitalist Treat?

Our Hospitalists treat a variety of medical conditions, from acute illnesses to complex chronic health conditions.

Some examples include:

• Jaundice
• Skin and bone infections
• Pneumonia
• Asthma
• Croup
• Bronchiolitis
• Meningitis
• Poor weight gain or failure to thrive
• Dehydration

• Gastroenteritis

What is Family-Centered Care?

Family-centered care is an approach to health care that focuses on forming a positive working partnership between health care providers, patients, and families. We believe that families play an important role in ensuring the health and well-being of our patients, and acknowledge that emotional, social, and developmental support are important components of comprehensive care.

Our Hospitalists believe that your child is best served by directly involving your family throughout the process. Our goal is to include you and your child as we:

• Conduct rounds in your child's hospital room
• Encourage you to ask questions and play an active role in your child's care
• Have open, honest discussions regarding the plan of care 
• Help you make informed decisions about your child's care

What to Expect

Upon admission to the Hospitalist service, your child will be thoroughly evaluated by members of our team, who will perform a comprehensive history and physical examination. The Hospitalist will provide an overview of the treatment plan and will coordinate care with any necessary specialists or care providers.

Every morning, our team will conduct Family-Centered rounds. We will perform a focused physical examination, discuss the updated plan of care including goals for discharge, and will address any concerns you may have.

When your child is ready for discharge, we will supply detailed instructions, including follow-up plans. We will keep your primary pediatrician and specialists informed regarding your child's hospitalization and will provide them a comprehensive summary of your stay in order to better coordinate ongoing care.

Preparing for Your Child's Stay

• Things to bring to the hospital:
  • Your child's medications, or a detailed list of their medications
  • The name and phone number for your preferred pharmacy
  • A copy of your child'schild's medical and immunization records, if available
  • A list of your child's physicians and care providers, including their names and contact information
  • Anything that will make your child more comfortable, such as their favorite blanket or stuffed animal
• Alert medical staff of any food, environmental, or medication allergies
• Parents are permitted to stay with the patient at all times, including overnight. Siblings, friends, and family members are welcome to come during visiting hours, but unfortunately will not be allowed to stay overnight
• Specialists in our Child Life, Social Work, and Case Management departments are available to help your family cope with the challenges related to your child's hospitalization
• If you are coming from out of town and need to request a room at the Ronald McDonald House, please call (727) 767-7694
• Check out Your Child's Visit to All Children's Hospital and our Inpatient Family Guide for more information and resources

Contact Us

If you or your child is experiencing a life threatening emergency, please call 911 immediately.

• If you or your child is experiencing a non-emergency health problem, please contact your pediatrician. If you do not have a pediatrician, you can call our Physician Referral Service at (800) 456-4543, Ext. 4444.
• For admission information, please have your pediatrician contact the Physician Access Line at (877) 222-0404. This line is open to doctors only.
• For more information on the Pediatric Hospitalist Program, please call (727) 767-4243.