Pediatric Hospital Medicine

Our Doctors and Providers

What is a Pediatric Hospitalist?

Pediatric hospitalists are board-certified pediatricians who specialize in the care of infants, children and adolescents who are hospitalized.

Overview

Our Team

We work within a multidisciplinary team composed of:

nurses
medical and surgical specialists
respiratory therapists, pediatric pharmacists
physical and occupational therapists
child life specialists
social workers
pediatric nutritionists
imaging and laboratory personnel

We use a family-centered care model because we believe involving the child's family as members of the health care team is vital to the recovery of the child.

We supervise and educate resident physicians and medical students.

We participate in patient safety and health care quality initiatives.

Our Patients

We provide inpatient care to patients when their primary care doctor does not admit to Vermont Children’s Hospital or when he or she has chosen to utilize our services. We also provide inpatient consultation to subspecialty services.

Our patient population includes patients from birth to young adults. We care for patients in the Emergency Department, on the Children’s Inpatient Floor on Baird 5, and in the Newborn Nursery.

The referring primary care provider receives a phone update within 24 hours of admission and at the time of discharge. More frequent calls are made if there are significant updates or at the request of the primary care provider. A discharge summary is faxed to the primary care provider at the time of discharge.

Our Availability

Coverage is provided from 8 am to midnight, Monday through Friday, for Emergency Department Consults and 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for pediatric admissions.

Engaging Our Services

We are available through the Provider Access Services, PAS, at (802)-847-2700, 24 hours a day for questions or consultation.

Emergency Department Referrals

If you would like your patient to be evaluated in the Emergency Department by the Hospitalist service, please page the Pediatric Resident through PAS. Please note that Emergency Department evaluations by the Hospitalist service are currently only available between 8 a.m. and midnight on weekdays. You may refer your patient to be evaluated by Emergency Department staff at any time.

Hospital Admissions

Patients can be directly admitted to the Children’s floor if they are stable and were seen by their doctor within the hour prior to arrival. Please call PAS and ask for Patient Placement Services. Patient Placement will facilitate a conference call with the Hospitalist.

If your patient may require admission to the hospital and does not meet the above criteria, please make an Emergency Department referral as above.

Hospital Transfers

If you would like to transfer a patient to Vermont Children’s Hospital and the Hospitalist Service, please call PAS and ask for Patient Placement Services. Patient Placement will facilitate a conference call with the Hospitalist.