Stephen C. Schimpff, M.D., writes in Medical Economics:

“There is a crisis in primary care and it’s now flowing over into the hospital when a primary care physician’s (PCP) patient is admitted.

 “No longer cared for by the PCP, the role has largely fallen to the hospitalist. There has been a loss of the long time primary care physician-patient relationship and the trust that comes with time. There has been a frequent loss of satisfactory communication when the patient is admitted and again when discharged. At a time when the patient most wants and needs the comfort of a long-time trusted professional friend, the patient instead is confronted with a stranger at the helm. What has happened to create this state of affairs?”

To read all of his remarks, please hit this link.