The goal of this website is to inform, educate, and promote understanding for the hospitalized patient.
-Brett Montgomery, MD
Select a category below for more information
What is a Hospitalist?
Hospitalist, myself included, are physicians who only work in a hospital and specialize in the care of acutely ill adults. I do not have an outpatient clinic; my “office” is the patient’s hospital room. Most hospitalist are board certified in Internal Medicine. We are akin to inpatient primary care doctors and serve as the “quarterback” of the inpatient healthcare team.
General information about the Healthcare team
Most patients enter through the Emergency Room or are admitted for an elective procedure. Once admitted nurses and doctors are only the most visible parts of a large web of dedicated professionals all coming together for patient care.
advice to promote mobility
If you don’t use it, you lose it. Spending all day in a hospital bed is a direct path to weakness. Unfortunately, simply remaining mobile in the hospital is a challenge. Wires and tubes are everywhere tethering patients to the bed. Nevertheless, movement is critical one’s improvement. Too often ignored; the benefits of early and frequent mobilization are many. If you want to get better and out of the hospital start with getting out of the bed.
Sleep. you need it
The brain runs on sleep; just as cars run on gas and everything else on electricity. Sleep is not given priority for hospitalized patients; it should. The deleterious effects of insufficient rest compound like a downhill snowball. There is a reason it is listed near the top.
Discharge planning
Once you’ve been admitted to the hospital it’s time to start thinking about how to get out. Effectively discharging someone home once their illness has improved is far more complicated than most realize. Medication reconciliation, rehab arrangements, new medical equipment, transportation, consultant follow up, home nursing visits, etc. All these and much more must be arranged. This often has as much influence on a patient’s hospitalization as the medical care itself. Take some time to learn about it.
Learn about discharge planning including types of post-hospital rehab
Code & resuscitation status
Every hospitalized patient has a Code Status. This informs the staff of the patient’s wishes regarding cardiac resuscitation or intubation should their heart stop or they need to be placed on a ventilator. The reality of survival should one’s heart or lungs cease functioning is very different than what is portrayed in media. Most people do not have a clear understanding of what they are discussing and over-estimate their chances of survival should it happen. Please take the time to read this section.
Learn about code status and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
Medical conditions
In this section I provide education on various medical conditions commonly encountered in the hospital. It’s not comprehensive. I’ve written it similar to how I explain things to patients. There are links to credible websites to provide more in-depth information. As always, I hope it spurs communication between yourself and the provider.
Dr. Montgomery's Patient Education Site 