A hospitalist is a medical doctor who specializes in the care of patients during their hospital stay. The hospitalist can care for them during their stay and provide continuity with a community physician, at no charge. The patient's primary care physician may choose to have a hospitalist follow their patient in the hospital or if the patient does not have a primary care physician, the hospitalist can care for them during their stay and refer the patient to a primary care physician when they are discharged from the hospital.