Skilled Doctors Playing an Important Role

At Saint Vincent Hospital, we’re dedicated to providing comprehensive, compassionate care to those in our community. As part of our ongoing commitment to excellence, our Hospitalist Program plays a critical part in providing you with support in getting the care you need. Hospitalists are doctors whose primary focus is providing general medical care for anyone admitted to our hospital.

What Do Saint Vincent Hospitalists Do?

Hospitalists are responsible for many important tasks, including:

Working in partnership with your primary care doctor to coordinate inpatient care
Working closely with nurses, ancillary staff and other specialists involved in your care
Being familiar with the hospital’s systems for ordering tests, analyzing results and arranging for treatment
Being trained to quickly recognize and respond to changes in the patient’s condition
Being available at the hospital 24 hours a day, so they can see patients as frequently as their medical conditions require
Promptly providing your doctor with a written report of your hospital visit to facilitate any follow-up care you may need

If you do not have a primary care doctor, the Hospitalist team will provide you with a list and arrange your follow-up care.

How Hospitalists Help Primary Care Doctors

Hospitalists practice full-time in the hospital, so they are readily available to help your doctor. When you enter the hospital, a Saint Vincent Hospitalist will immediately begin acting as attending doctor for the length of the hospital stay.

Hospitalists will:

Provide prompt admission and treatment
Oversee your entire hospital stay to provide quality care
Communicate ongoing patient status to your primary care doctor on a timely basis

Daily activities include:

Coordinating hospital admissions
Arranging diagnostic testing and specialty consultations
Explaining findings and discussing recommendations with patients
Orchestrating all patient care
Providing medical care for patients who need surgical treatment
Managing urgent situations that may arise during the hospitalization
Reviewing hospital treatment with insurance companies and payers

Career Opportunities

If you’re interested in a career as a Hospitalist at Saint Vincent Hospital, call (508) 363-6849 to learn more.

Busting the Myth: Do Doctors Choose Surgery First for Pain?

When you're dealing with pain, it’s natural to worry that surgery might be the first thing a doctor suggests. Here’s the truth—surgery is rarely the first option for managing pain. Depending on your specific condition, your doctor will focus first on safer, noninvasive treatment options to help ease your pain. Let’s take a closer look at why surgery is usually the last step, not the first.

Why Surgery Isn’t the First Answer to Pain

Pain is More Than Physical
Doctors understand that pain isn’t just about the body. Your emotions, stress and daily life all play a role. Treatment plans look at the bigger picture, not just the physical symptoms.
Non-Surgical Options May Work Well
Some pain may be managed with treatments that don’t involve surgery, such as:
- Medications like ibuprofen, acetaminophen or nerve pain medicines.
- Physical therapy to build strength and improve movement.
- Injections or nerve blocks to target pain areas.
- Talk therapy like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for chronic pain.
Combining Treatments Helps
Doctors often recommend a combination of treatments (like medication, physical therapy and stress management) to provide a higher chance of reducing pain.
Surgery Has Risks
Surgery comes with risks like infection, long recovery times and side effects. Most doctors avoid these risks unless it’s absolutely necessary.
Every Plan is Personal
No two people experience pain the same way. Doctors create plans based on your health, pain type and personal goals. Surgery may only be considered after trying other nonsurgical treatments.

When is Surgery Considered?

Surgery is only recommended when:

There's a clear cause for pain that surgery may be able to treat.
Pain affects daily life despite trying other noninvasive treatments.
Other options have been explored and haven’t worked.

Doctors don’t rush into surgery. They take time to understand your pain and try treatments that carry less risk first. If you’re worried about being pushed into surgery, know that your care team is focused on finding appropriate treatment options for your condition, and that often means starting with noninvasive treatment options.

Hospitalist Program