Longstreet Inpatient Medicine expands hospital-based care to HMC

GAINESVILLE - Longstreet Inpatient Medicine is expanding its hospital-based care to include Habersham Medical Center.

In 1997, The Longstreet Clinic began North Georgia's first and only full-time, hospital-based inpatient service. Today that practice, Longstreet Inpatient Medicine, has grown to include more than 20 physicians dedicated to caring solely for hospitalized patients.

Now, fifteen years later, inpatient medicine is considered one of the fastest growing medical specialties in the country, with more than 22,000 physicians practicing as hospitalists. As the shortage of primary care physicians continues to rise, many primary care providers have turned to hospitalists to care for their patients when they are admitted to the hospital.

"Our physicians and practices are continually looking for creative and quality ways to meet the needs of our patients and their communities," said Mimi Collins, CEO of The Longstreet Clinic.

A hospitalist is a physician who manages all aspects of a patient's care, from admission to discharge. Working with emergency department physicians, primary care physicians, specialists, nurses and other clinical staff, the hospitalist manages all aspects of a patient's hospital stay.

Habersham Medical Center began offering hospitalist services in 2007.

"We take our commitment to serve our community seriously and our selection of The Longstreet Clinic's hospitalist program reaffirms that commitment," says Dick Dwozan, president of Habersham Medical Center. "The Longstreet Clinic's track record of clinical excellence and patient-centered care mirrors our mission and principles and made them the clear choice to provide our hospitalist services."

"We are excited about our expanded relationship with Habersham Medical Center and about the opportunity to bring our hospitalist program to patients in Habersham County," Collins added.

One of those physicians who will be providing hospitalist care is no stranger to inpatients at Habersham Medical Center. Gary N. Harrison, MD, FACP has been a hospitalist at Habersham Medical Center for almost two years and will continue to provide inpatient care as a staff hospitalist and TLC physician.

"We will continue to work closely with the medical staff of Habersham Medical Center to provide a seamless transition of care between the physician office and the hospital," Dr. Harrison adds. "We have the highest respect for the medical staff and hospital team and will continue to support the high quality medical care that our patients have come to expect."