Pediatric Hospital Medicine Program

Our team of pediatric hospitalists specializes in caring for children who are inpatient in our hospital with a range of conditions.

We provide comprehensive, family-centered medical care for infants, children and adolescents during their stay at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital as part of our Pediatric Hospitalist Program.

Our team of dedicated pediatricians specialize in the care of sick children who require treatment in the hospital and provide onsite care to our patients 24 hours a day. Together, we work with our patients, their families, specialists throughout the hospital, and other providers to deliver care that meets the individual needs of our patients during their stay.

The role of a pediatric hospitalist

A pediatric hospitalist is a pediatrician who works primarily in a hospital setting. A pediatric hospitalist is a board-certified doctor who has completed at least four years of medical school and three years of pediatric residency training.

Hospitalists provide a familiar and consistent approach to inpatient care. Hospitalist programs also have been shown to help prevent medical complications, reduce hospital stays and lower health care costs.

The Johns Hopkins All Children's hospitalist team

Our hospitalist team practices exclusively in the hospital setting, caring for patients from birth to age 21 with a variety of medical conditions. Our board-certified pediatricians have diverse backgrounds and are passionate about caring for hospitalized children. We primarily care for patients on the hospital’s medical-surgical floors but may be involved in the care of patients across all areas of the hospital.

Because Johns Hopkins All Children's is a teaching hospital, our hospitalists work with medical students, physician assistant students, residents and fellows at various stages of training, supervising these trainees directly at all times. Our hospitalists are the “attending physician” or “physician in charge” on your child’s care team and are ultimately responsible for your child’s care.

In addition to caring for patients at Johns Hopkins All Children’s, members of our hospitalist team also see pediatric patients at Sarasota Memorial Hospital.

Because hospitalists focus solely on the care of hospitalized children, our team is experienced in the unique aspects of our patients' needs during the hospital stay, such as the emotional and social impacts of hospitalization on children and how to help patients effectively transition back to home after hospitalization. We also communicate directly with your primary care physician and specialists to optimally coordinate your child’s care.

Some additional benefits of being treated by a hospitalist include:

• We can to react to situations promptly because at least one of our team members is in the hospital at all times.
• We can modify treatment plans, follow up on test results, and update your family in real-time as new information becomes available.
• As the physician responsible for coordinating discharge, our hospitalists will help you prepare for your transition back home. We specialize in proactively identifying any potential needs unique to your child, and will help your family access any medications, resources, and/or services necessary to facilitate ongoing care after discharge.

Meet Our Team

Family-centered care

We believe that families play an important role in ensuring the health and well-being of our patients, and know that emotional, social and developmental support for patients and families are important components of comprehensive care.

Our hospitalists believe that your child is best served by directly involving your family throughout the process. Our goal is to include you and your child as we:

• Conduct rounds in your child's hospital room
• Encourage you to ask questions and play an active role in your child's care
• Have open, honest discussions regarding the plan of care
• Help you make informed decisions about your child's care

Conditions we treat

Our hospitalists treat a variety of medical conditions, from acute illnesses to complex chronic health conditions, such as:

• Jaundice
• Skin and bone infections
• Pneumonia
• Asthma
• Croup
• Bronchiolitis
• Meningitis
• Poor weight gain or failure to thrive
• Dehydration
• Gastroenteritis

What to expect

Upon admission, your child will be evaluated by a member of our team, who will perform a comprehensive history and physical examination. The hospitalist will provide an overview of your child’s treatment plan and will coordinate care with any necessary specialists or care providers.

Every morning, our team will conduct family-centered rounds. We will perform a focused physical examination, discuss the updated plan of care including goals for discharge, and will address any concerns you may have.

When your child is ready for discharge, we will supply detailed instructions, including follow-up plans. We will keep your primary pediatrician and specialists informed regarding your child's hospitalization and will provide them with a comprehensive summary of your stay in order to better coordinate ongoing care.

Preparing for your child's stay

When your child is admitted, you should bring the following items with you to the hospital:

• Your child's medications, or a detailed list of their medications
• The name and phone number for your preferred pharmacy
• A copy of your child's medical and immunization records, if available
• A list of your child's physicians and care providers, including their names and contact information
• Anything that will make your child more comfortable, such as their favorite blanket or stuffed animal

Please alert medical staff of any food, environmental or medication allergies.

Parents are permitted to stay with the patient at all times, including overnight. Siblings, friends and family members are welcome to come during visiting hours, but unfortunately will not be allowed to stay overnight. You can find more information about visiting hours and procedures in the Visitor Information section.

Specialists in our Child Life, and Social Work and Case Management departments are available to help your family cope with challenges related to your child's hospitalization.

If you are coming from out of town and need to request a room at the Ronald McDonald House, please call 727-767-7694.

Review our Inpatient Family Guide for more information and resources.