Pediatric Hospitalist Program

Henrico Doctors' Hospital offers a 24 hour, 7 day a week Pediatric Hospitalist program, which provides in-patient care for general pediatric conditions, and is designed to assist community pediatricians and family practice physicians when their patients are hospitalized.

The Pediatric Hospitalists are deicated to providing the safest, highest quality care to children and families. Committed to using evidence-based medicine delivered in a family-centered environment, the Pediatric Hospitalists believe that families are best served by fully involving them in the medical care decision process. This includes:

• Family Center of Care rounding in patient rooms
• Open discussions
• Joint decision making with families about care
• Inpatient pediatric consultation
• Admitting, referring or transferring patients
• Contact us

Inpatient Pediatric Consultation

The goal of the Pediatric Hospitalist program at Henrico Doctors' Hospital is to provide excellent service to patients, families and their referring physicians. The input, expertise and professional cooperation of the referring physician are highly valued by the pediatric hospitalist physicians. The Pediatric Hospitalist program is also designed to provide well coordinated and communicated transitions between the referring physician's office and the hospital.

The referring community physician will be called at a minimum within 24 hours of admission and at the time of discharge. More frequent calls will be made if there are significant clinical changes, or at the request of the referring physician. A copy of the discharge summary is also faxed to the referring physician at the time of discharge.

Participation in the Pediatric Hospitalist program is entirely optional. Community physicians may admit patients to their own services, but the hospitalist program is available to those physicians who choose to do so for geographic, vacation or other reasons. The decision to admit to the Pediatric Hospitalist program does not impact a physician's attending status at Henrico Doctors' Hospital.

Community physicians who wish to sign up may do so by calling the program director, Clifton Lee, MD at (804) 323-8772. Then, when their patients are admitted to Henrico Doctors', they will automatically be placed on hospitalist service, whether they have been referred or not. 

Admitting, Referring or Transferring Patients

Hospital Admissions
A patient may be admitted directly to Henrico Doctors' Hospital by the referring physician by contacting the Pediatric Unit at (804) 289-4944, and ask to speak to the physician on-call for Direct Admissions, who will arrange the admission to Pediatric Hospitalist service.

Referrals to the Emergency Department
Because some patients may need evaluation and treatment in the Emergency Department prior to admission to the hospital, the referring physician may refer a patinet to the Emergency Department. It is helpful if the referring physician advises emergency physicians that if the patinet is admitted, the patient will be on the Pediatric Hospitalist service. If a patient requires admission to the hospital, the pediatric hospitalist will be notified.

Transfers from Another Hospital
Patients may be transferred from other hospitals to the Pediatric Hospitalist service at Henrico Doctors' by calling (804) 289-4944. Please ask to speak with the physician on-call for Direct Admissions, who will arrange the admission.

Transfers to Another Hospital
Patients requiring higher level of care will be transferred to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

Admitting Locations and Hours
Monday through Friday, 6:30am to 5:00pm
Admitting Department
Main Lobby

Monday through Friday, 5:00pm to 9:00pm
Outpatient Registration
Level 1

Monday through Friday, 9:00pm to 6:00am
Weeknds and Holidays
Emergency Department
Level 1 

Contact Us

For admission information, you may contact the physician on-call for Direct Admissions at (804) 289-4944. For more information about Pediatric Hospitalist services, please contact Clifton Lee, MD, Program Director at (804) 323-8772, or via email.