The Hospitalist Movement
Authors: Robert M. Wachter
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1999)

Letters5 October 1999The Hospitalist MovementRobert M. Wachter, MDRobert M. Wachter, MDUniversity of California, San Francisco; San Francisco, CA 94143 (Wachter)Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-131-7-199910050-00024 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail IN RESPONSE:Dr. Starr raises legitimate concerns regarding the impact of hospitalists on internal medicine, notwithstanding our finding that 89% of hospitalists are internists (1). He may be relieved to learn that the earliest hospitalist groups were developed by physicians; insurance companies are only recent converts. Moreover, most hospitalist programs are voluntary; the independent choice of physicians like Dr. Starr is fueling the movement. He will be heartened by the vigorous stance that the American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine and the National Association of Inpatient Physicians have taken against the mandatory use of hospitalists by insurance companies ...References1. Lindenauer PK, Pantilat SZ, Katz PP, Wachter RM. Hospitalists and the practice of inpatient medicine: results of a survey of the National Association of Inpatient Physicians. Ann Intern Med. 1999; 130(4 Pt 2):343-9. Google Scholar2. Maguire P. Use of mandatory hospitalists blasted. College, others protest plans that force doctors to give up inpatient care. ACP Observer. 1999;19:1. Google Scholar3. Wachter RM, Katz P, Showstack J, Bindman AB, Goldman L. Reorganizing an academic medical service: impact on cost, quality, patient satisfaction, and education. JAMA. 1998;279:1560-5. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Stein MD, Hanson S, Tammaro D, Hanna L, Most AS. Economic effects of community vs. hospital-based pneumonia care. J Gen Intern Med. 1998;13:774-7. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. Diamond HS, Goldberg E, Janosky JE. The effect of full-time faculty hospitalists on the efficiency of care at a community teaching hospital. Ann Intern Med. 1998;129:197-203. LinkGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Robert M. Wachter, MDAffiliations: University of California, San Francisco; San Francisco, CA 94143 (Wachter) PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoLow-Molecular-Weight Heparins in the Treatment of Venous Thromboembolism Maria M.W. Koopman and Harry R. Buller Hospitalists and the Practice of Inpatient Medicine: Results of a Survey of the National Association of Inpatient Physicians Peter K. Lindenauer , Steven Z. Pantilat , Patricia P. Katz , and Robert M. Wachter Foreword Robert M. Wachter The Impact of Hospitalists on Medical Education and the Academic Health System Lee Goldman The Hospitalist Movement Heidi Wald Metrics 5 October 1999Volume 131, Issue 7Page: 545KeywordsCritical careHospitalistsInpatientsMedical servicesOutpatients ePublished: 15 August 2000 Issue Published: 5 October 1999 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 1999 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...