Department of Medicine announces new division

 

The Department of Medicine established a new Division of Hospital Medicine to reflect its expert capacity to provide comprehensive 24/7 care for acutely ill hospitalized patients from admission through discharge. This represents an important event in the evolution of the MUSC Hospital Medicine program that previously found a home in the Division of General Internal Medicine.

With the growing footprint of hospitalists at MUSC and expanding roles of faculty, department leaders saw a need for an additional academic structure responsible for faculty development and administration in hospital medicine. Marc Heincelman, M.D., MPH, who joined the department in 2014, was appointed the interim division director by Interim Chair Ben Clyburn, M.D.

The division’s interdisciplinary team of 40 physicians and advanced practice providers care for hospitalized patients on five teaching and six non-teaching inpatient services at University Hospital and Ashley River Tower. Additionally, the division provides coverage for services including orthopedic co-management, hospital medicine inpatient consultation, and preoperative clinic with plans to open two observation units by January 2021. Hospital medicine faculty serve important leadership roles within the College of Medicine and are actively involved in the education of medical students and residents at MUSC. In addition, division faculty lead quality improvement efforts throughout the hospital system to improve the value of care and patient experience at MUSC. Now separate, the divisions of Hospital Medicine and General Internal Medicine will have the academic resources necessary to prosper, while continuing scientific collaborations that have already proven successful. 

Investing in the future of health care: Preparing healers, transforming health

The face of medicine is constantly changing, and the need for your support continues to grow. Thanks to our generous donors, we are able to advance discovery, provide outstanding patient care, and train expert physicians. Over the years, the success of our campaigns has ensured that we continue to meet these needs for decades to come. We invite you to learn more about our fundraising efforts and how you can help.

One of our division’s fundraising priorities is to raise money for a point-of-care ultrasound machine, which will help improve the speed and accuracy of diagnostic testing for hospitalized patients at the time of need. Many hospitalists nationally are incorporating point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) into their daily practice to answer specific diagnostic questions and guide performance of invasive bedside procedures. Bedside ultrasound can dramatically improve the safety of procedures performed by hospitalists. Your donation will support diagnostic and therapeutic interventions that will improve patient outcomes.

“Ultrasound has now become a critical health care instrument that is viewed as an extension of the physical exam, much like we use a stethoscope,” said Marc Heincelman, M.D., MPH, interim division director of hospital medicine. “Early detection and more accurate diagnosis are key to achieving the best possible outcome for patients. Point-of-care ultrasound has grown rapidly in the last 10 years and is now recognized by many different societies, including the Society of Hospital Medicine, as the standard of care. This equipment would allow us to develop a formal ultrasound training program for our medical students and residents.”