University Hospitalist Group Selected To Provide Hospitalist Services At DCH

July 12, 2021

DCH Health System selected Capstone Health Services Foundation, which is affiliated with University Medical Center and the employer of University Hospitalist Group physicians, to provide hospitalists to both DCH Regional Medical Center in Tuscaloosa and Northport Medical Center.

In addition, the contract calls for IN Compass Health, an Atlanta-based physician staffing and management company, to provide operational oversight and expertise, and be responsible for day-to-day operations and quality care metrics of the hospitalist program. IN Compass also will work with Capstone in the recruitment, selection and hiring of physicians. Capstone will employ the physicians who work within the DCH hospitalist program.

The contract takes effect Oct. 1, 2021, at Northport Medical Center and Nov. 1, 2021, at DCH Regional Medical Center.

A hospitalist is a doctor who provides care from the time of hospital admission until discharge, for patients who either do not have a regular physician or whose regular physician does not practice at the hospital. Hospitalists are medical specialists who usually complete their residency in internal medicine or family medicine and then focus on providing care to hospital patients.

“The combination of Capstone and IN Compass will be a strong partner with DCH in providing quality medical care and ensuring patient satisfaction at the hospitals,” said Bryan Kindred, president and CEO of DCH Health System. “Partnering with these two health care leaders to staff and manage both DCH Regional Medical Center and Northport Medical Center helps ensure quality, continuity and consistency of care, since the same providers, using the same care models, will be delivering care at both locations. This is the right thing for our patients and the community.”

University Hospitalist Group operates under Capstone, an affiliate foundation of The University of Alabama and part of UA’s College of Community Health Sciences, which operates University Medical Center. University Hospitalist Group currently provides hospital medicine services at DCH Regional Medical Center.

“Partnering with IN Compass will allow Capstone Health Services Foundation to collectively offer DCH local and national knowledge along with the best practices of a leading medical center and a leading hospitalist management company,” said Dr. Richard Friend, dean of the College of Community Health Sciences. “We are pleased to expand our relationship with DCH and work together to elevate care for the citizens of West Alabama.”