Hospitalist Team Provides Continuing Coverage

In the spring of 2004, New London Hospital’s Board of Trustees approved a new hospitalist program. At that time, Gregory Curtis, MD assumed the position of hospitalist, caring for inpatients Monday through Friday.

Today, Dr. Curtis is NLH’s Chief Medical Officer and Director of the Hospitalist program. A team of five medical doctors, including Dr. Curtis, now offer 24 hour a day, seven days a week service to all patients admitted to NLH.

The hospitalist concept emerged in the mid-1990’s when it became apparent that a medical professional was needed to coordinate the care of hospitalized patients. This coordination includes admission and discharge, overseeing patient care, ordering tests and lab work, writing orders, consulting with the patient’s primary provider and specialists, and discharge planning. In addition, the hospitalist communicates with patients and families. Hospitalists are experts in the conditions they treat and are committed to improve hospital practices that result in improved quality of care.

A major advantage of the hospitalist program is the ability of the primary provider to remain in the office during patient appointments. The primary provider no longer needs to leave the office during patient appointments and is able to focus completely upon the needs of the outpatients. A major benefit to inpatients is that they receive immediate access to a specialist qualified to address their needs.

Having joined NLH in 2003, Dr. Curtis is board certified in internal medicine. Other members of the hospitalist team are:

Stephen Bissah, MD, who received his postgraduate training at Woodhull Medical and Mental Health Center in New York.

Adnan Khan, MD, who completed a residency at the University of North Dakota in Minot, ND.

Steven Powell, MD, completed residency training at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon. NH.

Ashwin Swami, MD, served a residency at St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital Center in New York and is board certified in internal medicine.

Together, these physicians comprise a team committed to providing quality care to the patients served by New London Hospital.

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