HOLLAND – May 2, 2011 - The Society of Hospital Medicine (SHM) has announced that Bart D. Sak, MD of Holland has earned the Fellow in Hospital Medicine (FHM) designation. Dr. Sak practices at Holland Hospital as part of Lakeshore Health Partners - Adult Hospitalists.

“Until now, hospitalists have not had a way to distinguish themselves from their colleagues,” said SHM’s CEO, Larry Wellikson, MD. “The FHM designation gives hospitalists a chance to set themselves apart and be recognized for all of their work that continues to make hospital medicine the fastest growing medical specialty.”

A Hospitalist is an internal medicine physician who specializes in providing care for patients while they are hospitalized.  Hospitalists do not see patients in an office setting, but work closely with a patient's primary care physician to provide a continuum of care.

To be designated as a Fellow in Hospital Medicine, Dr. Sak met the requirements of being a hospitalist for five years, a member of SHM for three years, and demonstrating a commitment to quality and process improvement, and commitment to organizational teamwork and leadership.  He is one of approximately 175 hospitalists that will be inducted in the 2011 class of Fellows this May at a recognition ceremony in Dallas, Texas.

Lakeshore Health Partners (LHP), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Holland Hospital, was formed in 2009 to provide patients with local access to primary and specialty care, latest technology and treatments, and state-of-the-art medical facilities.  The group currently includes over 30 physicians in several specialty areas including LHP-Internal Medicine, LHP-Foot & Ankle Specialist, LHP-Adult Hospitalists, LHP-Pediatrics, LHP-Internal Medicine/Pediatrics, LHP-Neurology, LHP - Ear, Nose & Throat, and LHP – Family Medicine.