Extensivist Medicine

Our extensivist physicians provide coordinated care designed to help patients with complex health needs. We serve patients both in and out of the hospital to offer seamless care transitions.

Why choose the UCLA Health Extensivist Program?

We designed the UCLA Health Extensivist Program to help patients with multiple medical conditions better manage their care. Our goal is to reduce hospital admissions, improve your quality of life and provide seamless care transitions. These services are available for patients with a UCLA Health primary or specialty care provider who need help managing their care.

Highlights of our program include:

Access to care: Our team provides convenient outpatient services, including the administration of intravenous (IV) fluid and antibiotics. We also offer same-day availability for urgent visits, so you receive timely care. Extensivists consult with you in case you’re admitted to the hospital, leading to a seamless care transition when you’re discharged.

Multispecialty expertise: Our clinical program includes the expertise of extensivist physicians, nurses, social workers, pharmacists, care coordinators and patient service representatives. We work with primary and specialty care physicians to manage complex conditions.

Training programs: We offer physician training through the Extensivist Kennamer Fellowship in General Internal Medicine. We teach outstanding clinicians with expertise caring for medically, psychologically and socially complex patients across the care spectrum. This fellowship illustrates the ways in which our physicians stay at the top of their practice, continually increasing their knowledge base so they are equipped to train others.

Conditions extensivist physicians treat

The Extensivist Program may be appropriate for patients with two or more hospital admissions or four or more emergency department visits in 12 months. Our specialists help patients who require frequent office visits or intensive outpatient management.

We often treat patients who have:

Cancer: Diseases in which irregular cells grow and divide uncontrollably, potentially spreading throughout the body. Patients with cancer often require multiple inpatient and outpatient hospital visits to receive treatments such as radiation therapy or chemotherapy.

Chronic kidney disease: A condition in which the kidneys no longer filter blood as they’re supposed to. In advanced stages, patients require dialysis. During this treatment, a machine does the work of the kidneys to remove toxins and excess fluid from the blood.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): A group of lung conditions that damage lungs, block air flow and make breathing difficult. Patients with COPD often take several medications and may need supplemental oxygen or pulmonary rehabilitation.

Congestive heart failure (CHF): A chronic, progressive disorder in which the heart doesn’t pump blood as well as it should. Patients typically take multiple medications to manage CHF, but they may eventually require an implantable device, such as a pacemaker or defibrillator.

Diabetes: A condition that leads to high blood sugar. People with diabetes need to monitor their blood sugar and may require insulin injections, an insulin pump or other medications.

History of solid organ transplantation: Solid organ transplants include kidney, liver, heart, pancreas, lung or intestinal transplants. Patients who have had organ transplants need long-term medical care to ensure that the organ is working properly and that the body doesn’t reject the transplant.

Treatments and services we offer

Extensivists are key members of the health care team for patients with conditions that require frequent hospital visits or the expertise of multiple specialists. Your extensivist offers many services, including:

Care coordination with your primary care provider, hospital doctor and specialist(s) to optimize your treatment plan
In-office visits, including same-day appointments for urgent needs
Inpatient consultations when you’re admitted to the hospital
Medication management
Outpatient treatments, such as IV medications

Our expert team

Our extensivist team includes highly trained physicians who focus on optimizing your care plan. We are clinical leaders who provide expert patient care while also teaching physicians in specialty training. We offer seamless care coordination with a patient-centered approach.