Front Row (l-r): Tao Du, MD; Mary Kane-Brock, MD; and Valeria Pazo, MD; Back Row (l-r): Muhammad Shah, MD; James Pallet, MD; Herbert Archer, MD, PhD (director); Wendy Cleare, MD; Matthew Lubin, MD; and Taimur Habib, MD
The Greenwich Hospital (GH) Hospitalist team has just received the Westchester and Fairfield County Business Journal’s 2021 Doctors of Distinction Team Award. Selected by an expert panel of judges, the group of 38 full- and part-time physicians and physician assistants was recognized for their compassionate and devoted care, and for going above and beyond during unprecedented challenges. A virtual award ceremony is planned for September 23.
Hospitalists – physicians who specialize in the care of hospitalized patients – treat a wide range of acute and chronic medical conditions. Their unique focus on inpatient and acute care is designed to reduce medical complications, increase patient safety and speed recovery. Unlike primary care doctors, Hospitalists are based within the hospital and do not have an outside medical practice. Available 24 hours a day, these specialists can respond quickly to a patient’s medical needs and spend more time talking to the patient and family about the patient’s care.
The GH Hospitalist team cares for patients in all areas of the hospital except the ICU, including patients with cancer, those recovering from surgery and those with other medical conditions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, however, that entire focus changed.
Over the past 18 months, the importance of a high-quality, stable Hospitalist program to community health and hospital functioning has never been greater. During each of the COVID-19 surges, Greenwich Hospital hospitalists responded by rapidly assimilating the latest knowledge on a novel disease; meeting several times a week to ensure a standard approach to management; putting in an average of 50 percent more time at work; and caring for 1,123 COVID-19 patients.
Over that same period, they continued to care for a growing population of severely ill patients, while improving hospital-wide quality metrics such as reducing readmission rates and reducing the mortality index. Additionally, this year, the group took on new responsibility as dedicated educators for the next generation of physicians at Greenwich Hospital.
“In a year we will never forget, the entire group is extremely grateful for this recognition,” said Herbert Archer, MD, PhD, medical director, Hospitalist Program, Northeast Medical Group, Greenwich Hospital.
The team of Greenwich Hospital Hospitalists includes:
