A hospitalist is a medical doctor who specializes in the care of
patients during their hospital stay. The hospitalist can care for them
during their stay and provide continuity with a community physician, at
no charge. The patient's primary care physician may choose to have a
hospitalist follow their patient in the hospital or if the patient does
not have a primary care physician, the hospitalist can care for them
during their stay and refer the patient to a primary care physician
when they are discharged from the hospital.