Financial implications of implementing a hospitalist program.
The use of hospitalists, who are physicians specializing in providing hospital inpatient care, has become increasingly popular. Preliminary data suggest that hospitalists can shorten inpatient lengths of stay and lower costs without compromising clinical outcomes or patient satisfaction. The role of hospitalists, their position in the organizational framework, and their contractual and financial relationships are influenced by the structure of the healthcare organization in which they work. Although hospitalist programs can benefit hospitals and medical groups financially, they rarely become self-supporting through professional fees alone. The long-term viability of hospitalist programs frequently will depend on the support the programs receive from whichever entity benefits from hospitalist-generated efficiencies.
Wachter
R M
RM
Department of Medicine, University of California, and Moffitt-Long Hospital, San Francisco, CA, USA.
Whitcomb
W F
WF
Nelson
J R
JR
D002140:California; D019090:Case Management / Q000191:economics; D003284:Contract Services; D003363:Cost Control; D003625:Data Collection; D004651:Employment; D005377:Financial Management, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D020445:Hospitalists / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007902:Length of Stay; D017146:Models, Organizational; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000191:economics*; D014481:United States; D014600:Utilization Review