Patients in Mile Bluff's acute care (hospital) setting, will now have
the opportunity to be cared for by hospitalists, a team of healthcare
providers specialized in inpatient care. Hospitalists work in partnership
with primary care providers to meet the medical needs of patients while
they are in the hospital. While oftentimes primary care providers in the
clinic focus on prevention of illness, a hospitalist's focus is to
provide treatment for a current illness.
Hospitalists provide leadership - while collaborating with nurses, pharmacists,
physical and occupational therapists, respiratory therapists, a dietitians,
and other support staff members - to determine the best course of treatment
for patients.
Studies show that hospitalists can positively impact a patient's length
of stay and can improve patient satisfaction. At Mil Bluff, the program
is expected to enhance the high-quality care that is already provided
to patients in the acute care setting.
Mile Bluff establishes this new program with the addition of two experienced
providers, Drs. Kabir Ahmed and Ingrid Berg.
Kabir Ahmed, MD
Mile Bluff welcomes Dr. Kabir Ahmed to the medical team as he fills the
role of hospitalist. As a provider, Dr. Ahmed is looking forward to partnering
with primary care providers to treat patients in the hospital setting.
"Hospitalist medicine has been around for many years," he explains.
"As a hospitalist, I will focus only on the patients that are hospitalized,
and will be making sure they are well taken care of."
As with all healthcare providers, Dr. Ahmed's mission is to help patients
feel better. "As a provider, I listen to the needs of my patients
and give my entire attention to their care," says Dr. Ahmed. "My
focus will be on patients as individuals. They all have unique personalities
and I'm looking forward to getting to know them."
While Mile Bluff has a 'small town hospital' feel that appeals
to Dr. Ahmed, he is pleased that the medical center offers a wide variety
of specialized services that help to keep care local.
"As a patient, continuity of care is very important," he says.
"Staying in one healthcare system, like Mile Bluff, is the cornerstone
of providing that continuity of care."
Coming from the suburbs of Chicago, Dr. Ahmed is looking forward to the
quiet lifestyle that the Mauston area can provide.
Ingrid Berg, DO
As a provider who is well versed in caring for patients of all ages, Ingrid
Berg, DO is eager to join the Mile Bluff team.
When she begins providing care in September, Dr. Berg will treat patients
who require admission to the hospital. Along with Dr. Ahmed, Dr. Berg
will also provide care to patients who come to the emergency room, are
admitted to the hospital, and do not have a healthcare provider of their own.
Doctor Berg is looking forward to working with patients and their families
at Mile Bluff. "Medicine is one of the many 'helping' professions,"
she explains. "What attracted me to this field is the opportunity
to be present for patients and families during difficult times, to help
translate the overwhelming language of illness, and to make sure that
their encounters are filled with compassion.
"I simply enjoy people, and in medicine you work with people from
all walks of life all day long. The work is so varied and interesting.
I appreciate the intellectual challenge!"
While working as a full-spectrum healthcare provider in southwest Wisconsin,
Dr. Berg was surprised at how much she enjoyed the hospital setting. "In
medical school, I had envisioned more of a clinic-based career,"
she recalls. "As a hospitalist, I like being part of a hospital team,
and it is very rewarding to see sick patients return home."
As she helps to establish the hospitalist program at Mile Bluff, Dr. Berg
is eager to help patients understand her role at the medical center. "One
of the benefits of having hospital-based providers is that we are not
running back and forth from the clinic to the hospital to provide care,"
explains Dr. Berg. "It is easier to coordinate care and meet with
families with a provider is 'in-house' all day."
"Another advantage of a hospitalist program is the benefit it has
to primary care providers," continues Dr. Berg. "While working
with a hospitalist, primary care providers have greater availability for
their patients in the clinic setting. The providers don't have to
'close their clinic' to go see patients in the hospital. The goal
of this division of labor is also to restore the work/life balance for
all healthcare providers."
In addition to her partnership with primary care providers, Dr. Berg also
sees patients as important members of the healthcare team. "I try
to empower patients with information, so they can make decisions,"
explains Dr. Berg. "My philosophy of care is to work very hard on
behalf of patients, and to seek out additional expertise when needed."
While Dr. Berg may be new to the Mile Bluff organization, she is already
quite familiar with Mauston and the surrounding community. For the last
10 years, she and her family have been visiting the area. The group enjoys
horseback riding and spending time outdoors, and they are looking forward
to settling into Mauston.
Welcome Drs. Ahmed and Berg!