Inpatient Services

More and more primary care physicians are choosing to focus on patient care in their offices and are opting not to provide hospital care. When a patient of one of these physicians needs to be admitted to RMH, his or her care is managed by our highly qualified Inpatient Physician Team.

Who are Inpatient Physicians?

Inpatient Physicians (hospitalists) are RMH physicians who work only in the hospital. They visit and treat admitted patients on behalf of the patient’s primary care physician. Inpatient Physicians also may be assigned to treat patients at RMH who do not have a primary care physician.

In order for physicians to serve on the RMH Inpatient Physician Team, they must submit their qualifications to the credentialing committee. Once the committee determines that the physician is qualified, he or she joins the RMH team. This process assures that the Inpatient Physicians are qualified to take good care of you.

A team approach to patient care

When a patient has been assigned to the RMH Inpatient Physician Team (either because the patient’s personal physician does not admit to RMH or because the patient has no personal physician), a member of the team will visit the patient daily and, with the patient’s consent, work with his or her primary care physician to insure continuity of care.

If the patient’s care requires a specialist physician, the RMH Inpatient Physician Team will work closely with the specialist to direct and coordinate needed care. Our Patient Care Coordinators—an integral part of the RMH Inpatient Physician Team—serve as liaison between the physicians, the patient, the family, the primary care physician and other hospital departments involved in the patient’s care.

The RMH Inpatient Physician Team is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. At least one member of the team is always available to address patient or family questions or concerns.

When the patient is discharged

When a patient under the care of the Inpatient Physician Team is ready to be discharged from RMH, the patient care coordinator will communicate information about the patient’s stay to the patient’s primary care physician so that appropriate follow-up care can be arranged. If further assistance is needed following discharge, patients may contact the RMH Inpatient Physician Team at 540-564-7364 or 800-543-2201, ext. 7364.

"They (the Inpatient Physicians) made me feel like I was the only patient in the hospital."
-Jeffrey Keane, former RMH patient

"We appreciate the attentive care and compassion you show our hospitalized patients. Thanks."
-Wayne McNett, MD
Carilion Family Practice

"Thank you for taking care of our patients and, particularly, for your prompt feedback through discharge summaries and personal phone calls which are so vital for continuum of care."
-Irene Lohkamp, MD
East Rockingham Health Center

"Dear Hospitalists, …..thank you for your much appreciated participation and care of our mutual patients."
-Shawn Lepley, MD
Carilion Family Practice