title: The value of an infectious diseases specialist.
abstract: Infectious diseases (ID) specialists have played a major role in patient care, infection control, and antibiotic management for many years. With the rapidly changing nature of health care, it has become necessary for ID specialists to articulate their value to multiple audiences. This article summarizes the versatile attributes possessed by ID specialists and delineates their value to patients, hospitals, and other integral groups in the health care continuum.
authors.affiliation: Metro Infectious Disease Consultants, Hinsdale, Illinois 60521, USA. rpetrak@innovativeventures.com
authors.forename: Russell M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Petrak
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Sexton
authors.forename: Michael L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Butera
authors.forename: Marvin J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Tenenbaum
authors.forename: Mary C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: MacGregor
authors.forename: Mary E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: W Patrick
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.forename: Sandra A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Kemmerly
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Dougherty
authors.forename: Johan S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Bakken
authors.forename: Maria F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Curfman
authors.forename: Lawrence P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Martinelli
authors.forename: R Brooks
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Gainer
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control; D010045:Outpatients; D018805:Sepsis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D013038:Specialization / Q000191:economics*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents