One of the concerning trends we’ve seen in recent years is the rapid growth of “hospitalists”–physicians who work full-time for hospitals and handle the care during inpatient stays.  What we have noticed is a big problem with lack of continuity and coordination with the patient’s regular primary physician.  Since Ready Hands Home Care is frequently called upon to provide in-home services atthe time of hospital discharge, we run into foul-ups all the time that result from this system.  Medications prescribed at discharge often don’t include maintenence drugs that the patient should be on; primary physicians are in the dark about what went on during the hospitalization; follow-up arrangements are shaky.  The hospitalist boom has certainly been driven by money concerns, but one would at least hope that a dedicated inpatient doctor could deliver better care by virtue of being on site.  Now comes evidence that the hospitalist movement may be increasing overall costs by leading to more post-discharge expenses and more readmissions.  Read more here: http://newoldage.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/12/do-hospitalists-save-money/?ref=eldercare