Reddy new staff member

LUTCHER — St. James Hospital is beginning a Hospitalist program at their St. James Parish facility, which will be headed by Dr. Anu Vellanki, Dr. Aparna Vellanki and Dr. Narender Reddy Thatikonda.

The introduction of a Hospitalist program is a natural progression as primary care physicians have become busier, hospitalized patients have become sicker and technology becomes more sophisticated. Hospitalist medicine has become the fastest growing specialty in the United States because hospitals and patients are seeing the positive difference it makes.

A hospitalist is a physician who specializes in the care of hospitalized patients and whose practice is in the hospital.

From admission to discharge, the hospitalist communicates with your physician. At discharge, information about your hospitalization and discharge plan will be sent to your primary care physician.

After leaving the hospital, the primary care physician will resume responsibility for the patient’s medical care.

&#8220Hospitalists are trained in the kinds of diseases and circumstances that require hospitalization,” says Anu Vellanki, MD, internal medicine, primary care physician, and hospitalist at St. James Parish Hospital. &#8220We understand the needs of patients who require this level of care. Because we are right here at St. James Parish Hospital, we can help reduce the amount of time patients need to remain in the hospital. Our role is to get patients the care they need when they need it.”

Hospitalists provide additional benefits to patients, including:

€ Hospitalists come to the patient, which makes inpatient medical care more convenient and efficient for the patient, the hospital, and the medical staff involved in the patient’s care.

€ As inpatient experts, hospitalists help coordinate and integrate medical services provided by the hospital’s various departments, thus improving quality of care.

€ Hospitalists collaborate with surgeons to provide risk assessment before surgery.

€ Hospitalists monitor the prescribing and distribution of the patient’s medications during the hospital stay and communicate about continuing care after discharge.

Dr. Reddy recently joined the St. James staff as an Internal Medicine Physician.

He completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Our Lady of Mercy Medical Center in Bronx, New York in 2007.