Care Team
While advanced technology and modern facilities are crucial to the delivery of high quality medical care, it is our doctors, nurses, technicians and other staff who make Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center a place of clinical excellence.
Each of our dedicated employees approaches their job with tremendous concern for the patient. From nursing to respiratory therapy and environmental services to rehabilitation, patient safety and care is the primary focus of staff in all areas.
Ninety-three percent of our physicians are board-certified in their specialty. Our nurses, many of whom are certified in their specialty and working toward professional advancement, are an integral part of our progress in enhancing our quality and safety. More than half of our bedside nurses hold advanced degrees (BSN/MSN). Together, these experts combine their specialty knowledge and collaborate in teams designed to treat complex illnesses.
Collaborative Inpatient Medicine Service
The Collaborative Inpatient Medicine Service (CIMS) is a skilled team of healthcare providers, specializing in hospital medicine, who provide inpatient care at Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center. The team is made up of physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and case managers.
Caring for patients 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, the team is dedicated to serving the public trust, and promoting clinical and academic excellence in the field of hospital medicine.
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A healthcare provider from the CIMS team will see you daily. Most visits are in the morning, with additional visits as needed. You may not see the same provider from one day to the next. However, be assured that we will keep each other informed about your medical conditions and needs. Daily team meetings and a confidential computerized database help us deliver high quality care without interruption.
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Communication with your primary care provider is important to us. When possible we care for you along with your primary care provider or another physician from his or her practice. If your provider is outside Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center, we will contact him or her as necessary to learn about your past medical history, and always send him or her a detailed discharge summary at the end of your hospitalization.
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After you are discharged, most questions should be directed to your primary care provider. However, if you need to reach a hospitalist after discharge, please call 410-884-4644 to speak with the administrative assistant or to leave a message. Someone will return your call as soon as possible. In case of an emergency, please call 911.
Healthcare Professionals Who Could be Part of Your Care Team
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RNs assume primary responsibility for the care of patients and direct the care provided by other members of the nursing team.
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LPNs assist with the coordination and implementation of the plan of care as delegated by the RN, are licensed to administer specified medications, and take vital signs and perform many patient care procedures.
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PCTs assist with the care of patients as delegated by the RN by taking vital signs, collecting blood samples for testing and inserting urinary catheters. They also provide personal care to patients.
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PAs receive extensive training and are certified and licensed to practice medicine under the supervision of a doctor, working in hospital and outpatient settings. They perform physical exams and order laboratory and radiology tests that result in a diagnosis and treatment plan for a medical problem or illness. They also prescribe medications.
Physician assistants' education complements physician training. After graduation they have ongoing continuing education requirements and a recertification exam every six years. They evaluate and treat patients in collaboration with a physician.
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NPs are registered nurses prepared through additional education and advanced clinical training, certified and licensed to provide comprehensive care for a variety of health problems. They prescribe medications and provide teaching and counseling to promote healthy behaviors.
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CRNAs are qualified, as a result of additional training, certification and licensure, to administer anesthesia and manage patients during surgical procedures. CRNAs practice under the supervision of an anesthesiologist and care for select groups of patients.
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CNMs have advanced education, certification and licensure to manage comprehensive women’s health care in a variety of settings, focusing particularly on pregnancy, childbirth, the postpartum period, infant care, and the family planning and gynecological needs of women through their life cycle.
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Attending physicians are generally doctors who are responsible for and supervise the overall care plan of patients in the hospital. They may be a hospitalist, intensivist, primary care physician or surgeon, among other specialties.
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Consulting physicians may be asked by attending physicians to assist with determining patient treatment recommendations. Consulting physicians are specialists in disciplines that include cardiology, nephrology, infectious diseases, as well other areas, and add their expertise to aspects of patient care in conjunction with the attending physician. They may perform exams, and request and perform diagnostic tests to present recommendations for attending physicians to consider when making decisions on treatment options.
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A hospitalist-or a hospital doctor-is a physician who specializes in the care of hospitalized patients and whose practice is in the hospital, not in an office.
Hospitalists provide comprehensive medical care to diagnose and manage patients’ acute illnesses while they are hospitalized. They provide hospital care information to patients’ primary care physicians when patients are discharged.
All of our hospitalists are board certified in internal medicine and well-versed in the unique needs of the hospitalized patient.
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Doctors trained in internal medicine, with a sub-specialty in pulmonary and/or critical care, intensivists treat patients in the Special Care and Intensive Care Units.
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Certified personnel who assist surgeons during a variety of surgical procedures, including orthopaedic, vascular and general surgery.
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Licensed medical social workers and registered nurse case managers are available to help you and your family cope with hospitalization and illness. These individuals work closely with physicians to:
- provide clinical assessment and counseling
- facilitate communication between you and your family and the interdisciplinary team
- communicate your needs to other medical facilities, care providers and vendors
- schedule appointments for your home care needs.
To ensure that the care you receive at Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center is high-quality, appropriate and cost-effective, our Case Management department continuously monitors the programs, staff and services involved in your care. We follow guidelines established for these review procedures by state and federal regulators and the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (TJC).
The Case Management Department can be reached at 410-740-7960, or via fax at 410-740-7564.
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This nurse is part of the hospital’s Community Care Team, a program focused on improving the health of complex, chronically ill Howard County residents. They support the physical health of patients, including assessing their health during their first home visit, organizing their medication list, providing information to their health care providers and monitoring their progress.
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Part of the hospital’s Community Care Team, these community health workers help improve the health of complex, chronically ill Howard County residents. They support lifestyle and community service needs, including arranging for transportation to appointments; establishing food, financial and housing assistance; coordinating home health care workers; accessing senior programs; and helping with proper diet management.
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Chaplains work as members of the care team to support the well-being of the whole person. Chaplains specialize in spiritual care, which may involve addressing spiritual and emotional needs, identifying resources of spiritual strength, and developing coping strategies. Chaplains enable persons of all backgrounds to connect with their spiritual, religious, relational, and community resources.
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Imaging technologists perform diagnostic imaging exams and are responsible for accurately positioning patients and ensuring a quality medical image is produced. They work with radiologists, the doctors who interpret diagnostic imaging, to diagnose or rule out disease or injury. They include radiologic technologists, who perform exams that use ionizing radiation; sonographers, who perform ultrasound exams; MRI technologists; and nuclear medicine technologists, who perform exams that use radiopharmaceuticals.
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OTs assist patients having difficulty with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), such as bathing, dressing and writing. They evaluate and treat patients with cognitive changes, and decreased strength and arm function.
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PTs evaluate patients’ overall strength, balance and movement to help improve or return them to their highest functional level safely and with minimal to no pain.
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Specialized, certified practitioner who works under the supervision of an intensive care physician or pulmonologist. Specialized in both cardiac and pulmonary care, they educate and treat those suffering from heart and lung problems. They collaborate with specialists in pulmonology and anesthesia for the clinical care of patients, including airway management, administering aerosolized medications and managing life support.
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SLPs evaluate and treat patients in the areas of swallowing and communication. These include eating and drinking safely, as well as speaking, understanding, reading and writing for communication.
Social workers are available every day, including weekends, from 9:00am-5:30pm. We are on-call after hours and holidays as needed.
Phone: 410-720-8517
Email: [email protected]
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