The Hidden Drawbacks of Specialized Care

Last week, the Society of Hospital Medicine celebrated National Hospitalists Day, honoring the contributions of more than 60,000 hospitalists - physicians dedicated to caring for hospitalized patients. In recent years, hospitalists have transformed the delivery of inpatient care and are often praised for streamlining care and improving patient outcomes.

Whether hospitalists improve patient outcomes is debatable, but here’s something I know for sure: during hospital stays, most patients and families see everyone in a "white coat" as a doctor. They rarely look at titles, and even if they do, many don’t understand them and are too intimidated to ask.  

I recognize that hospitalists fill in the gap left by primary care physicians who can no longer follow their patients into the hospital. However, I'm not a fan of the model. Replacing the physician who knows the patient with someone who doesn’t makes no sense to me. But that’s what happens in a profit-driven “sickcare” system.

Here are 5 reasons I’m not keen on hospitalists:

1.      They often don’t explain their titles to patients or family.

2.      They have no personal connection to the patient.

3.      Their levels of training and experience can vary.

4.      Patients confuse the hospitalist’s information with their primary care physician’s information.

5.      Inconsistent follow-up after discharge confuses the patient.

Navigating the complexities of hospitalization is challenging, which is why it pays to be an informed advocate for yourself or your family. So the next time you or a loved one is in the hospital, here are 3 things you can do to enhance both short and long-term outcomes:

1.      Pay attention to the title on the white coat.

2.      If it says “Hospitalist,” get to know them.

3.      Collaborate with them on the best plan of care.

Be Informed; Be Well!

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