Hopitalists - Elizabeth Brandenburg, MD

Ask A Doctor
Elizabeth Brandenburg, MD
FAQ About Hospitalists

Q: What is a hospitalist?
A: Hospitalist is the term used for doctors who are specialized in the care of patients in the hospital.

Q: What kind of training is required of the hospitalists at Sonora Regional Medical Center?
A: Our physicians are trained in Internal Medicine or Family Practice Residency Programs. We are all either Board Certified, or Board Eligible. We also receive ongoing education through our managing company, Sound Physicians. Many of us are members of Society of Hospitalist Medicine, which is also an excellent source of education.

Q: How long has this program been in place and who are the patients you care for?
A: The program was started on July 1, 2007, in response to the closure of Tuolumne General Hospital. The initial goal was to care for patients who did not have a local Primary Care Provider. As the program grew, we were able to offer hospital coverage to Primary Care Provider s who wanted to devote their time and focus on their patients in the clinic setting.

Q: How does the hospitalist service work at Sonora Regional Medical Center? If I am admitted to the hospital, will my primary care physician be involved with my inpatient care?
A: The majority of our patients are admitted through the Emergency Department, although occasionally we take a direct admission from a clinic. When a patient is admitted to or discharged from the hospital, the local Primary Care Providers are notified. When necessary, we call the Primary Care Provider for clinic records, to communicate a change in status or to plan discharge. Your Primary Care Provider will receive a copy of the hospital records as well; it will detail everything that happened in the hospital. Your Primary Care Provider is always welcome to come and visit.

Q: Do hospitalists provide care to patients admitted for inpatient surgery?
A: We are frequently asked to consult for General Surgery, Orthopedic, Vascular and occasionally Obstetrical patients. Occasionally a surgery patient is admitted to our service, especially if there is a need for medication management, or multiple medical problems.

Q: Does the hospitalist program reduce medical costs?
A: This is an excellent question. There are some studies that show a significant savings, chiefly by shortening the length of stay and planning further studies as an outpatient. Some of this is shifting cost to the outpatient setting. The key to reducing cost over all is to work together as a community especially with the Primary Care Providers but also with families and community programs that promote health.

Q: Are the hospitalists at Sonora Regional Medical Center using any new technologies to make my hospital stay safer?
A: We are very committed to improving patient safety. We are involved in the Medical Center’s transition to an Electronic Medical Record system. This will allow physicians to place medication orders electronically, which has been shown to reduce medication errors. We are developing order sets (templates that help define specific protocols and speed up the ordering process), that incorporate evidence-based medicine shown to have the best clinical outcomes.

Q: Will the hospitalist continue with my medical care after I am discharged from the hospital?
A: No, we do not provide outpatient services. While outpatient care returns to your Primary Care Provider, we want to be sure you have everything you need until your next visit. The Medical Center now has a call back service. After discharge a dedicated nurse will call you and check on you. We want to be sure you were able to get your medications and follow-up appointment with your Primary Care Provider.

Q: Will I receive a separate bill for hospitalist services?
A: Yes, our billing is done through our managing company, Sound Physicians, based in Tacoma, Washington.

Bio:
Elizabeth Brandenburg, MD, is the Medical Director for the Hospitalist Program at Sonora Regional Medical Center. She has been in Sonora for 21 years. Dr. Brandenburg attended medical school at Loma Linda University and practiced medicine in Southern California before moving to Sonora. When asked what she enjoys most about being a hospitalist at the Medical Center Dr. Brandenburg replies, “Seeing patients get well is most satisfying.” She also highly prizes working with an “outstanding community of caring medical professionals.”