During your stay at WMHS, our team of hospitalists may be coordinating your care if you do not have a primary care physician or if your family physician requests the services of our hospitalists. Many hospitals across the country use this type of physician—a doctor who is not your family doctor but who is responsible for your medical care during a hospital stay.

What is a Hospitalist? 
A hospitalist is a medical doctor who specializes in caring for inpatients from the time of their admission until their discharge. Hospitalists are available around the clock to provide you with ongoing and immediate care. They work as partners with your primary care physician to provide you with quality care during your hospital stay. 

How Does the Hospitalist Program Work?
During your admission, the hospitalist team of physicians will be in charge of your care and will see you daily or more often as needed. The hospitalist will direct your care, discuss treatment options, answer your questions, obtain consultations when needed, monitor test results and quickly respond to changes in your condition. Our hospitalists want to keep you and your family informed, so please ask your nurse to contact the hospitalist whenever you want to discuss your care with him.

The hospitalist will work closely with your primary care physician as well as any other needed specialists to coordinate your care during your stay. Your primary care physician will be kept informed about your progress and may consult with the hospitalist or other specialists during your stay. 

What Happens When I am Discharged?
The hospitalist will discuss your discharge instructions and medications with you and answer any questions you may have. He will also assist you with setting up a postdischarge appointment with your primary care physician. A detailed report about your inpatient care will be sent to your primary care physician so he or she can provide your followup care. If you do not have a primary care physician, the hospitalist will assist you in finding a primary care physician who will provide followup care.
 
What are the Benefits to Me?
We believe that you and your family will appreciate that our hospitalists:
- Are accessible around the clock during your hospital stay
- Are available to answer any questions that you or your family may have
- Respond quickly to changes in your condition or to adjust treatment based on test results
- Work closely with your primary care physician, surgeon and other specialists to coordinate medical services specific to your needs. 

 WMHS Hospitalists:

Ardalan Enkeshafi, M.D.
Dr. Enkeshafi completed his residency in internal medicine at Good Samaritan Hospital of Maryland and Maryland General Hospital, both in Baltimore. He also did training at Harbor Hospital and the University of Maryland Medical Center through the Maryland General Hospital Residency Program, in affiliation with the University of Maryland Medical System. Dr. Enkeshafi received his medical degree at Beheshti University School of Medicine in Tehran, Iraq. He is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and also a member of the American College of Physicians.

Bashar Farjo, M.D.
Dr. Farjo completed his residency in internal medicine at the Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore. He did training in general surgery at the Jackson Memorial Hospital and the Miami Veterans Affairs Medical Center through the University of Miami. Dr. Farjo did his internship and completed medical school at the University of Bagdad in Iraq. He is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and also a member of the American Medical Association and the American College of Physicians.

Hemamalini Karurapu, M.D.
Dr. Karurapu completed her internship and residency in internal medicine at Howard University Hospital in Washington, D.C. She received her medical degree from Guntur Institute of Medical Sciences/Guntur Medical College at the NTR University of Health Sciences in India. Dr. Karurapu is board certified in Internal Medicine.

Sudheer Sanikommu, M.D.
Dr. Sanikommu completed his residency in internal medicine at Howard University in Washington, D.C. He earned a Master’s degree in Hospital Administration from Farleigh Dickenson University in New Jersey. Dr. Sanikommu received his medical degree from the Ambedkar Medical College at Bangalore University in India, where he also did his internship. He is Board Certified in Internal Medicine.

William D. Lamm, M.D.
Dr. Lamm has been practicing family medicine in Cumberland since 1983. He is a graduate of the University of Maryland School of Medicine, where he also completed his residency in family practice. Dr. Lamm is board certified in both family medicine and geriatric medicine.

Steven R. Smith, M.D.
Medical Director, Hospitalist Program
A native of the tri-state area, Dr. Smith is board certified in both internal medicine and pulmonary disease and has a Master’s of Medical Management degree from Carnegie Mellon University. Prior to returning to the Cumberland area 2002, Dr. Smith was in private practice in Oklahoma City and President of the Oklahoma City Clinic.

Ravi K. Aiyer, M.D.
Dr. Aiyer is board certified in internal medicine and completed his residency in internal medicine at the Wyckoff Heights Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York, through the Weill Medical College at Cornell University. He also studied nuclear medicine at St. Vincent’s Medical Center in New York City. A native of India, Dr. Aiyer earned medical degrees in diagnostic radiology and physiology. He also worked as an emergency physician at Wyckoff Heights Medical Center and at hospitals in India.

Abdul H. Cheema, M.D.
Dr. Cheema completed two years of training at the Howard University Hospital in Washington, D.C., which included an internship and clinical rotation in internal medicine. A native of Pakistan, he received his medical degree from the Nishtar Medical College at the Bahauddin Zakariya University in Multan. Dr. Cheema did his residency at the Lahore General Hospital in Pakistan, where he served as a medical officer and research assistant for three years. He is Board Certified in Internal Medicine.

Kim Bittner, MSN, CRNP

Kim Bittner received her master's degree from the University of Pittsburgh as an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner. Ms. Bittner did her training at Conemaugh Memorial Hospital in Johnstown and the Western Maryland Health System. She is a board certified acute care nurse practitioner.