Hospitalist Services

A hospitalist is a specially trained physician whose sole focus is you, the patient, while you are in the hospital. They are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, which allows our patients to be more closely monitored throughout their hospital stay.

Hospitalists are also available to provide guidance and care to those patients who may not have a primary care physician or are from other communities.

When you are admitted to OSF Saint James, your primary care physician will request a hospitalist for you. The hospitalists stay in close contact with your primary care physician throughout the in-patient experience. The transition from your current physician to the hospitalist service and back again will be seamless.

Upon discharge, your primary care doctor will resume the management of your medical care and treatment and they will have access to all medical records from your hospitalization.

Raj Ughreja, MD - Medical Director

"We'll be there when you or your family needs us," says Dr. Raj. "We can answer questions and offer comfort. By being at the hospital on a daily basis, we can immediately address problems, make medication changes or evaluate test results promptly, which helps speed recovery."

Dr. Raj recently completed his three-year residency in internal medicine at the University of Chicago Northshore in Evanston, Illinois. As a hospitalist, Dr. Raj values being part of a team. 

"Dr Abraham and I do the hospital work while the primary care physician can focus on office care. And thanks to our new electronic records system, we all can call up the same test results and other critical information. Patients can count on the best possible care from each of us."

Dr. Raj is married to Shital, who is the daughter of another OSF Saint James physician, Dr. Mukesh Patel. She is currently completing her medical residency.

Susan Hambazaza, MD

"When my patients go home, I hope they will feel they've been well cared for by a doctor who understood and explained things. And I want the primary physician to feel there's been good communication, so the highest level of care can continue."

Dr. Hambazaza recently completed a three-year residency in internal medicine at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria. Being able to form a bond with patients on a daily basis is one of the reasons hospitalist work attracted her. 

"Getting to know the patients is the best part of the job. A stay in the hospital may not be pleasant, but a strong relationship with the same doctor will help patients feel better in many ways."

Dr. Hambazaza's husband, Waleed, is also a physician; they are the proud parents of one daughter, Salma.