Hospitalist Services

GRMC’s Board Certified Hospitalists are highly skilled physicians dedicated to delivering world class medical care and strive to improve the quality of life for each patient. Our Hospitalists diagnose, counsel, discuss therapeutic options and prognosis, as well as provide post-acute care options for rehabilitation.

There are many benefits of having a Hospitalist oversee your medical care during your stay at GRMC.

  • Daily evaluations from a GRMC Hospitalist focusing on patients needs and developing a personalized care plan.
  • Coordination of inpatient services with other medical specialties such as Cardiology, Neurology and Urology.
  • Ordering, reviewing and analyzing blood tests, x-rays, and other procedures to best plan next steps for care.
  • Overseeing discharge, planning and coordinating the transition of patient care to a post-acute care setting.

The day of discharge, a Hospitalist will write a discharge summary, which is sent to your primary care physician. The discharge summary will include a detailed description of the reason for admission, treatment(s) and procedure(s) performed during your stay, discharge diagnosis and recommendations for a safe transition of medical care.

Hospitalist Mission

To efficiently coordinate, and provide high-value, compassionate health care to hospitalized patient at Guadalupe Regional Medical Center preventing complications and improving outcomes through an interprofessional team approach.

Hospitalist Vision

We aim to be recognized as one of the more dynamic, dependable, and elite community hospitalist programs through a commitment to outstanding patient care, satisfaction and culture of interprofessional collaboration.

 

Get to know GRMC’s Hospitalist Team

 

Juan Arenas, MD, CHCQM-PHYADV, CPE
Board Certified in Internal Medicine
Board Certified in Health Care Quality & Management

 

 

Dr. Arenas is Board Certified in Internal Medicine. He completed medical school and residency as a general surgeon in Venezuela. After moving to the United States, he spent two years as a research fellow at Wake Forest in North Carolina, followed by a second residency in Internal Medicine at Texas Tech University. Dr. Arenas serves as the Medical Director of the hospitalist group and is extremely committed to ensuring the highest quality of care is delivered to each patient and family.


 

MaKenzi Burke, MHS, PA-C
Certified Physician Assistant, Master in Health Science

 

 

Makenzi Burke is a certified physician assistant who received her medical degree at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. MaKenzi is highly skilled in various specialties including pediatrics, emergency medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, primary care, and mental health; bringing a wealth of knowledge to GRMC.


 

Joseph Caravella, DO
Board Certified in Internal Medicine

 

 

Dr. Caravella is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and completed his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine at Liberty University College in Virginia. Prior to GRMC, he cared for patients in Laredo, Texas, while completing his internal medicine residency through the University of the Incarnate Word.


 

James Gaulding, MD
Board Certified in Family Medicine

 

 

Board Certified in Family Medicine, James Gaulding, MD, completed his Doctor of Medicine at Texas Tech University Health Science Center at El Paso. After medical school, he completed a residency at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in pathology, then went on to complete a second residency in family medicine at Southern New Mexico Family Medicine Residency Program.


 

Sarah Lester, MD
Board Certified in Family Medicine

 

 

Board Certified in Family Medicine, Dr. Lester completed her residency at John Peter Smith in Fort Worth, completing her years of Texas-based education as a National Merit Scholar, a magna cum laude graduate of Texas A&M, and medical school at University of Texas Health Science Center (UTHSC) in San Antonio. Dr. Lester is rooted in the community and takes pride in caring for patients.


 

Martin Levett, MD
Board Certified in Internal Medicine

 

 

Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Dr. Levett completed his internship and residency at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. He continues to actively serve in the U.S. Navy Reserves and holds the rank of Captain. Dr. Levett strives to make patients feel like they are family and keep them informed about their medical conditions, as well as options and therapeutic goals.


 

Sivaram Neppala, MD
Board Certified in Internal Medicine

 

 

Sivaram Neppala, MD is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and completed his medical degree at Katuri Medical college & Hospital in India. He then went on to complete his internal medicine residency at the University of Incarnate Word.