Attitudes of family physicians regarding the use of hospitalists for in-patient care: a pilot study

Abstract

Traditionally, family practice physicians have personally managed the care of their hospitalized patients. The changing healthcare marketplace, however, is stimulating changes in primary care physician practice. One change is the increased utilization of a new physician specialist known as the “hospitalist” to manage hospital in-patient care. The purpose of this study was to assess the frequency of family practitioners use of hospitalists, their level of satisfaction with the care provided by the hospitals and the degree to which increased utilization of hospitalists has affected their professional practice and their personal life. All physicians in Sedgwick County designated as family physicians were included in the study population. A majority of respondents (76%) utilize hospitalists to manage the care of their hospitalized patients. Also, the majority of respondents (77%) agree that utilizing hospitalists to manage in-patient care increases their productivity and 70% reported that hospitalists improve the quality of care provided. Family physicians in Sedgwick County generally agree that utilizing hospitalist physicians improves their own personal productivity and also improves quality of care for their hospitalized patients.

Hospitalists