New doctor - a hospitalist - joins St. John's medical staff

Her patient’s are raving about her and the staff at St. John’s refer to her as enthusiastic, energetic, and a joy to work with.  Her name is Nicolle Benz, DO, Board Certified in Internal Medicine.    Dr. Benz is the second step in the implementation of the hospitalist program at St. John’s Lutheran Hospital in Libby.   

A hospitalist is a physician who focuses on the practice of medicine from the in-patient side.  

Most hospitalists are internal medicine or family practice physicians who have undergone the same training as other doctors but prefer to practice medicine in the hospital setting.  

Having a hospitalist on staff has many advantages for in-patients.  

For example, hospitalists focus their expertise in caring for complicated hospitalized patients on a daily basis and they are at the hospital for a full day making them more available to meet with family members, follow-up quickly on test results, and answer staff and nurse’s questions. 

Upon her arrival at St. John’s Dr. Benz hit the floor running and immediately worked into the current hospitalist rotation, providing much relief to our local primary care doctors who have been rotating a full time hospitalist schedule.  

She comes to SJLH from Baptist St. Anthony’s Hospital in Amarillo, Texas, where she also practiced as a hospitalist.  

“Dr. Benz has such a lively personality, she virtually lights up a room when she walks in; she immediately makes you feel comfortable and in competent hands,” commented John Schwartz, Interim CEO at St. John’s.