Hospital Medicine | MaineHealth Memorial Hospital

MaineHealth Memorial Hospital Hospital Medicine provides expert inpatient care by highly trained staff. Hospital medicine is a medical specialty focused on comprehensive medical care for hospitalized patients. Hospitalists are physicians who are specifically trained to care for patients who have been admitted to a hospital.

Quality care for hospitalized patients

MaineHealth Memorial Hospital hospitalists manage and treat a wide range of complex diseases and conditions. They usually serve as your primary care provider (PCP) while you are hospitalized—ordering tests, prescribing medication and coordinating specialty care as needed. After you leave the hospital, your hospitalist will also coordinate post-discharge care with your regular PCP if needed.

Medical Surgical Unit

Our 25-bed, medical/surgical unit provides patient care using nationally-standardized clinical paths and protocols. Care is available fore people of all ages. Many of our care team members have had extensive training and experience in specialty areas. 

Working as a team, our physicians, nurses, case manager and social worker follow patients from admission to discharge. We focus on individual patient education and coordination of post-discharge care and community resources.

Intensive Care Unit (ICU)

The ICU provides 24/7 critical care for our sickest patients. The ICU is staffed by a highly trained and competent team who handle life-threatening medical, surgical or cardiac conditions. Clinical professionals work closely with patients, families and other health care providers to achieve the best outcomes and minimize anxiety and concern.

ICU patients receive continuous monitoring and constant observation, using critical care monitors and equipment. Care team members offer emotional support to patients and families and encourage questions.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I see my primary care provider?

During your hospital stay, your hospitalist will serve as your primary care provider. Your regular primary care provider may visit while you are in the hospital. You should continue to see your regular primary care provider after discharge from the hospital. Hospitalists provide many benefits:

• Hospitalists keep a close eye on you. They follow up on tests and adjusting your treatment plan based on those test results.
• Hospitalists answer your family's questions. Hospitalists are here to provide answers in person whenever possible. During critical and stressful moments, they provide honest and considerate answers to your questions. They are available to talk to you and your family about your care. There's no time more important to communicate about your care than when you might be critically ill.
• Hospitalists are there when you need them. Because they are in the hospital all day, your hospitalist can see you frequently, and with fewer interruptions. 

How does the hospitalist know about my medical condition?

Hospitalists talk to primary care providers on a frequent basis. At the time of your admission to the hospital, your primary care provider usually informs the hospitalist of your condition and sends over records to provide as much information as possible about your illness. The process is similar to what your provider does when they refer you to a specialist for another opinion, or for additional tests and treatment.

During the course of your hospitalization, your hospitalist and primary care provider may talk further regarding your treatment. At discharge, your hospitalist will communicate with your primary care provider to discuss further treatment needs, help arrange follow-up, prescribe the necessary medications, and send your hospital records to your primary care physician.