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About the Goshen Hospitalist Program

Goshen Hospital is proud to announce the launch of its Hospitalist Program. Based on the recommendation from our medical staff, the partnership between Apogee Physicians, the nation’s leading hospitalist group, and Goshen Hospital is one that will allow for greater physician flexibility, while ensuring our patients receive the highest quality inpatient care. Apogee Physicians began providing 24/7 inpatient coverage at Goshen Hospital in August 2009.

Led by program director and long-time medical staff member, Dr. John Hawkins, our hospitalist team is made up of four internal medicine physicians including Ajay Shah MD; David Ilo, MD and Nauman Shahid, MD, two Nurse Practitioners, Cheryl Burley and Carolina Flickinger, and our patient information coordinators Janie Hatmaker and Annie Baker.

Initial Objectives of the Hospitalist Program

• Provide inpatient care for unassigned patients via the emergency department

• Unassigned patients will be assigned for follow-up care to a PCP in their geographical area upon being admitted. This will help to ensure complete and accurate communication with the assigned primary care physician, resulting in a smooth and seamless transition from inpatient care to follow-up care.

• Provide inpatient care for medical staff members (outside of Goshen) who do not currently admit patients directly.

• Co-management of inpatient care for the Goshen Physicians specialists.

• Transition to coverage for inpatient care for PCPs who choose to utilize this service.

Patient Information Coordinators

The patient information coordinators (PICs) are an integral component of a successful hospitalist program. The role of these colleagues is to communicate with both the inpatient as well as the PCP’s office to ensure a seamless transition from inpatient to follow-up care.

The responsibilities of the PICs include:
• Contacts referring offices to notify physician of a patient’s admittance and/or to obtain necessary information on admitted patients.

• Communicates with the referring physicians regarding admitted patients

• Ensures that the discharge summary is sent to the referring physician’s office within 48 hours of discharge.

• Follows up with patients after discharge to confirm the patient’s appointment with their primary care physician

• The PICs do not provide clinical care to patients.