A Patient's Guide to the Memorial Pediatric Hospitalist and Intensivist Service

What is a Pediatric Hospitalist?

Pediatric Hospitalists are pediatricians who specialize in the care of hospitalized children in the pediatrics department. Pediatric Hospitalists are medical doctors who have had at least four years of medical school and three years of pediatric residency training.

What is a Pediatric Critical Care Doctor (Intensivist)?

Pediatric Intensivists are pediatricians who specialize in the care of children who are hospitalized in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). Pediatric Intensivists are doctors who have had a least four years of medical school and three years of pediatric residency training. They also have an additional 3 years in a Pediatric fellowship training in a Pediatric Critical Care, or PICU.

What Does a Pediatric Hospitalist Do?

Pediatric Hospitalists care for children with a wide variety of illness and medical needs, including:

• Infections of the blood, skin, lungs and kidneys
• Respiratory illnesses such as pneumonia and croup
• Problems with chronic illnesses such as diabetes and asthma
• Common pediatric illnesses such as influenza and dehydration
• Recovery from injury or surgery

What Type of Care Do Pediatric Critical Care Doctors Provide?

Pediatric Intensivists care for children admitted to the PICU department who are more critically ill than those in the Pediatric department. They sometimes care for patients with unstable conditions, giving more thorough and extensive monitoring than is available in the Pediatric department. Pediatric Intensivists know how to examine and treat children that have these increased medical needs.

Will they Work with my Pediatrician?

Pediatric Hospitalists often assist other pediatricians, family practitioners, general surgeons, and subspecialty physicians in caring for your child. They will work with your primary care physician and other specialists who care for your child in a way that is comfortable and reassuring.

If there is a significant change in your child?s condition, a Pediatric Hospitalist and a Pediatric Intensivist will update your primary care physician. When your child leaves the hospital, they will give your primary doctor an overview of your child?s hospital stay and provide detailed instructions for any further care that may be needed.