Our Hospitalists

Should you require a hospital stay, Lakeside Community Healthcare will be there with you. From admission through discharge, a Lakeside Community Healthcare hospitalist is available to direct your care every step of the way.

A hospitalist is a physician who manages patients throughout the entire continuum of hospital care. Located in our affiliated hospitals, they coordinate patient care with the primary care physician, specialists, surgeons, nurses, rehabilitation programs, discharge planning, clergy and others, in order to provide the highest quality of care.

The hospitalists make sure all details of patient care are communicated to the patient, their family and the patient's primary care physician. Once discharged, the primary care physician resumes the patient’s care.

Our hospitalists are board certified in internal medicine and practice in the following affiliated hospitals: Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital, Providence Holy Cross Medical Center, Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center, Glendale Memorial Hospital and Health Center and Valley Presbyterian Hospital. We continue to expand our hospitalist program to other affiliated hospitals in our effort to provide you with the best medical care.

Irvin Benowitz, D.O.

Samar Hazzan, M.D.

Tamika Henry, M.D.

Sayeed Khan, M.D.

Saeid Kohandarvish, M.D.

 Gary Kong, M.D.

Timothy Lee, M.D.

Angus Lo, M.D.

Mehdi Razeghi, M.D.

Mark Talavera, M.D.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is a hospitalist?

    A hospitalist is generally a board certified internal medicine physician who specializes in the care of patients while they are admitted to a hospital. Hospitalists help manage patients through the continuum of hospital care, staying in close communication with the patient's referring physician, thus ensuring patients receive the best care. Lakeside Community Healthcare has been credited with innovation in its hospitalists program, helping patients and their families advocate for the best quality care, while providing valuable communication among all stakeholders to add an increased level of comfort, compassion and understanding to a patient’s hospital stay.


  • What are the benefits for patients?

    There are many benefits to patients. Hospitalists provide patients with continuous care, allowing them to see the same physician throughout their hospital stay. The hospitalist provides patients with comfort and stability. As a result of the hospitalist’s involvement, high quality of care is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The patient sees a hospitalist as often as needed, instead of when doctors make their rounds once a day. Hospitalists can modify treatment or follow up on a test result immediately. And, hospitalists are available to consult directly with the patient's family.


  • What can hospitalists do for patients?

    First, since hospitalists practice within the hospital, they are present whenever the patient or family member has a question regarding care. Patients do not need to wait until their physician makes rounds to get answers. Second, hospitalists coordinate patient care with various specialists, surgeons, nurses, rehabilitation programs, placement, discharge planning, clergy and others.

    Once a patient is discharged from the hospital, the patient’s care returns to his or her primary care physician. Since the hospitalist has been in continual communication with the primary care physician, the two will discuss what type of follow-up care the patient needs. The process is similar to what your physician does when he or she refers you to a specialist for additional tests or treatment.


  • What value do hospitalists provide physicians?

    Hospitalists provide primary care physicians the ability to focus their attention on their office practices, while at the same time knowing their in-hospital patients are receiving the best care possible. This is particularly important especially in complex cases or when patients are acutely ill.