Medical Staff

Communication essential to hospitalist model

Hospitalist Leadership Connection, January 3, 2007

Many clinicians now recognize that hospitalists can better attend to the needs of their inpatients, but say the primary care physician (PCP)-hospitalist communication link is essential to the success of the hospitalist model of care, according to a November 21 United Press International article.

Clinicians who were initially concerned that the hospitalist model would negatively affect the traditional doctor-patient relationship now are focused on maintaining effective communication channels between hospitalists-who are expert at navigating the "increasingly complex hospital system"-and PCPs, who know their patients well.

The article advises patients who are cared for by a hospitalist to take the following measures to ensure communication and continuity of care:

  • When discharged from the hospital, get a list of all medications and a discharge summary to give to your PCP.
  • Call your PCP's office after a hospital stay to update your list of medications and to ask for a follow-up appointment.

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