Hospitalist Program

What is a Hospitalist Program?

Hospitalist Services consists of providers who are specially trained in inpatient care and are considered inpatient specialists. The Hospitalist Services providers are specially trained in internal medicine.  Your primary care physician has made them available to you in the event that you require hospitalization.

If your primary care physician utilizes Hospitalist Services and you need to be admitted to the hospital, you will be admitted by one of our hospitalist providers. They will manage and direct your care while you are a patient in the hospital. Our providers work closely as a team, so you may see more than one of them during your stay. They will be happy to answer questions for you and your family regarding your plan of care.

Our hospitalists will keep your primary care physician informed of your progress while you are in the hospital. The hospitalist is also available to you while you are in the hospital and will see you soon after you are admitted.

Why use our Hospitalist Progam?

Our hospitalists are:

• Familiar with key staff in the hospital, including medical and surgical consultants, discharge planners, clergy and other employees, which improves care
• Able to rapidly respond to problems or crises that may arise during patient care
• Partners with primary care physicians in coordinating specialized medical treatment for individual patients
• An excellent resource for patients without a primary care physician

What if I need to come to the Emergency Room?

Every medical emergency deserves immediate attention. It's a philosophy that sets emergency services at Southern Hills Medical Center apart. We offer patient-focused, family-centered care in our state-of-the-art facility. Services include:

Bedside registration
Ensuring patients get the care they need quickly and efficiently.

Providing Rapid Care
Care for people with minor injuries who are seen within an hour or less by a physician or nurse practitioner.

How do I use the Hospitalist Program?

If your physician or specialist believes that you need to be hospitalized, he or she may choose to coordinate your admission with our Hospitalist group. The hospitalist(s) will be in frequent contact with your physician, relaying the details of your care. If you are admitted through the Emergency Department, your physician will be promptly notified of your status and condition.

Once you've been admitted under the care of the hospitalist group, a hospitalist will be in charge of your care and will see you daily. Throughout your stay, they will work together with your physician to ensure that you obtain the best care possible.

The Hospitalist group will:

• Assess and treat your medical condition
• Coordinate your hospital care
• Establish a relationship with you and your family
• Review your progress with your physician
• When discharged, transition medical care back to your primary physician, who will resume the responsibility for ongoing outpatient treatment
• Assist patients in finding a primary care physician for those who do not already have one

What if I need a specialist while I am in the hospital?

Sometimes consultation with other specialists is necessary to ensure that you receive the best care we have to offer. The Hospitalist Services provider will coordinate your care with other specialists as needed.

How does it work?

After you are discharged from the hospital, you will return to your primary care physician for follow-up.  Your physician will have a record of the treatment you received while in the hospital and a copy of your discharge instructions.

If you have questions about our Hospitalist Services, please call (615) 781-4000.

Meet the Hospitalists at Southern Hills

MEDICAL DIRECTOR David Reyes, M.D. Medical School: Vanderbilt University Residency: University of Colorado Health Services Certified: American Board of Internal Medicine	Sareda Nur, M.D. Medical School: Fatima Jinnah Medical College, Pakistan Residency: Meharry Medical College Certified: American Board of Internal Medicine	Rachel Thomas, M.D. Medical School: Kadlec Medical Center, Richland, Wash. Residency: St. Agnes Hospital Certified: American Board of Internal Medicine, American Board of Palliative Care
Victor Vallejo, M.D. Medical School: University of Tennessee College of Medicine Residency: University of Tennessee affiliated hospitals Certified: American Board of Internal Medicine	Nicole Salloum, M.D. Medical School: Louisiana State University Health Science Center Residency: Vanderbilt University Medical Center Certified: Board Eligible, American Board of Internal Medicine
Nocturnists
Kimberly Carter, M.D. Medical School: Medical College of Georgia Residency: Vanderbilt University Medical Center Certified: American Board of Internal Medicine	William Clark, M.D. Medical School: Virginia Commonwealth University Residency: Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine Certified: American Board of Internal Medicine	Elias Haddad, M.D. Medical School: University of Tennessee College of Medicine Residency: Vanderbilt University Medical Center Certified: American Board of Internal Medicine
Michael Hooper, M.D. Medical School: Vanderbilt University Residency: Vanderbilt University Medical Center Certified: American Board of Internal Medicine	Robert Huang, M.D. Medical School: Case Western Reserve University Residency: Vanderbilt University Medical Center Certified: American Board of Internal Medicine	Matthew King, M.D. Medical School: Indiana University School of Medicine Residency: Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Fellowship: Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Certified: American Board of Internal Medicine
James Luther, M.D. Medical School: Vanderbilt University Residency: Vanderbilt University Medical Center Certified: American Board of Internal Medicine	Brad Maltz, M.D. Medical School: University of Miami Residency: Vanderbilt University Medical Center Certified: American Board of Internal Medicine	Natalie Spradlin, M.D. Medical School: Vanderbilt University Residency: Vanderbilt University Medical Center Certified: American Board of Internal Medicine
Christopher Williams, M.D. Medical School: Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Residency: Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Certified: American Board of Internal Medicine	Julia Wattacheril, M.D. Medical School: Baylor College of Medicine Residency: Baylor College of Medicine Certified: American Board of Internal Medicine