Friend or foe? How primary care physicians perceive hospitalists

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Primary Care Medicine
• Hospital Medicine

Background:

• The increasing prevalence of hospitalists is transforming primary care physician roles.
• Understanding primary care physicians' perspectives on this shift is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate primary care physicians' perceptions of hospitalists' impact on their practices.
• To assess the effects on patient relationships and overall care quality.

Main Methods:

• A mailed survey was distributed to randomly selected general internists, pediatricians, and family practitioners in California.
• Physicians reported on hospitalists' effects on patient care quality and their own practices.

Main Results:

• A 74% response rate (524 physicians) was achieved. Most physicians perceived hospitalists as neutral or beneficial to care quality.
• 64% had access to hospitalists; 23% were required to use them. Perceptions varied, with internists and those in mandatory systems viewing hospitalists less favorably.
• 53% felt hospitalists decreased workload, and 50% reported increased practice satisfaction, though 28% noted a decline in physician-patient relationships.

Conclusions:

• Primary care physicians generally hold positive views on hospitalists, particularly in voluntary systems that do not negatively impact income or increase workload.
• Mandatory hospitalist systems are less favored, especially among internists.
• Hospitalists can positively influence practice satisfaction and workload for primary care physicians.