Feedback shows members disagree on hospitalist issues
Two unscientific gauges of AAFP members' concerns point to one conclusion: Members are divided on hospitalist issues.
A mini-survey in the February FP Report, which drew responses from 110 members, asked, "What impact do you think the trend toward hospitalists will have on your practice?"
"Positive," said 54 responding members; "negative," said 39; "undecided," said 17.
Here's a sampling of comments members wrote on the mini-survey:
- "I just don't feel it's good medicine to turn over the care of our patients to someone else at the most stressful and scariest episodes of their illnesses."
- "I chose to quit hospital work and am more productive in the office."
- "If we give up our hospital-based practices, what is to separate us from nurse practitioners in the eyes of third-party payers and the public, other than their lower costs?"
- "I practice at a tertiary-care hospital. The standard of care and newest interventions are constantly changing, requiring almost daily revisions. I take inpatient call for my group of six 50 percent of the time, so call me a pseudo-hospitalist."
- "I'm tired of hospital care."
- "It's hard to teach and provide continuity of care in an atmosphere that promotes drop-offs."
Out of 110 mini-survey respondents, six are hospitalists and another two are part-time hospitalists. Forty-eight respondents said their practices are already affected by the hospitalist trend.
The Feb. 27 "President's Letter" from AAFP President Neil Brooks, M.D., of Rockville, Conn., also asked members for feedback on hospitalists and other issues. Out of 792 members who returned business reply cards with their comments, 328 focused on hospitalist issues. No other topic received nearly as much attention.
Those opposed to the use of hospitalists numbered 108, while 86 were neutral, often mixing pros and cons, and 134 generally expressed support, though sometimes with reservations.
FP Report is published by the AAFP News Department. Copyright © 1998 by American Academy of Family Physicians.