Structure
The Internal Medicine Division at Shaare Zedek Medical Center includes 8 hospitalization departments (4 internal departments, a Geriatric Department and an Onco-Hematological Department) and 8 specialized units (Endocrinology and Metabolism, Pulmonary Institute, Rheumatology, Gastroenterology Institute, Nephrology, Gaucher Clinic, Infectious Diseases and Hematology). One of the hospitalizing departments is located at Bikur Cholim Campus.
The division works closely with the Department of Emergency Medicine (ER) and most patients hospitalized in the internal departments are transferred from the ER. The division also cooperates closely with the Department of Cardiology, where internal patients with heart diseases are hospitalized.
The uniqueness of our division is the mixture of patients in the hospitalizing departments. While in most hospitals all internal hospitalization departments have a similar mixture of patients, at Shhare Zedek we assemble the patients based on their medical needs. Geriatric patients and patients that require round-the-clock care are placed in the Geriatric Department and in Internal Departments A and B. thus we enable specialization in the conditions that are more common to this population and the accompanying mental, familial and social issues. These departments also enjoy additional resources that allow for an optimal care, such as social workers, auxiliary workers, a monitoring unit with a nurse and more.
The younger patients and those who can function independently are hospitalized in Internal Department C. Department D holds mostly patients whose condition is somewhere in between Departments A and B and Department C.
Our hiring policy also differs from other hospitals. While many hospitals hire at the departmental level, we hire at the division level which allows for a balance in manpower at the different departments and enables us to shift workers easily between the departments according to departmental needs and staff wishes.
Medical services
The patient is at the center of activity of the hospitalizing departments. Rounds are done every morning and another round takes place at noon time, when test results are discussed and decisions about the treatment plan are made. The rounds are conducted with a "computer on wheels" that might reduce the interaction time between the physician and the patient but brings to the patient's bed all test results (including imaging) and enables the medical staff to order without delay counseling, further tests, special medication and the likes. The computer also helps the medical staff to share the findings with the patient and their family members and explain the treatment plan.
The staff invests effort and time in conversations with the patients and their family members and the visiting hours are very flexible (despite the official visiting hours set by the hospital administration) due to the understanding that family members are vital for mental support and other assistance. However, for privacy, family members are requested to step outside during doctors' visits with the other patient in the room.
Most adult patients that do not require surgical or gynecological intervention are hospitalized in the internal departments and the physicians treat a variety of diseases. The most common are heart diseases, diabetes, hypertension, stokes, kidney problems, liver problems, vascular diseases, tumors and more. These physicians spend three months each year conducting research and the results are usually implemented in the departmental routine. This guarantees that the patients will receive the most up-to-date care and that the medical staff stays apprised of all the medical developments in Israel and abroad.