DEAR DR. GOTT: This is in response to the reader who asked about her doctor no longer admitting patients to the hospital. As a staff registered nurse, I can tell you that we love it when a hospitalist is the admitting physician. This means that there is a 24-hour resource right there within the hospital — no calling and waking a doctor in the middle of the night. I feel patients get extraordinary care when there’s someone onsite to deal with any situation that comes up. I would in no way seek out a different primary-care physician, but rather celebrate that I would have a specialist available 24 hours a day, not just at rounding time!

DEAR READER: From a medical standpoint, hospitalists are often considered a godsend by physicians, nurses and other hospital staff alike. However, not all patients think the same. [Read more...]