Medical Staff

Psychiatric hospitalist model preferred

Hospitalist Leadership Connection, June 15, 2010

In 2007, the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center’s inpatient psychiatry program moved from a traditional continuity of care model to a hospitalist model. Patients might prefer the hospitalist model over the continuity of care model, and thus produce better outcomes, according to a new study in the May Journal of Psychiatric Practice.

Average length of stay was the same, but with the hospitalist model, discharges increased significantly and readmissions within 30 days decreased. Patients were also much more likely to follow through with outpatient appointments.

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