THE HOSPITALIST MODEL 2010

Evolution and Emerging Issues, Challenges and Best Practices

Dear Colleague:
Over the past several years, the Hospitalist Model has gained considerable traction as an efficient and reliable system for meeting the care needs of hospitalized patients. Hospitalist programs exist in a variety of shapes and sizes. Several common issues however, require immediate attention in order for this model to live up to its potential for becoming the benchmark standard of inpatient care.

Physician compensation remains one of the top challenges facing hospital administrators, government policy decision-makers and hospitalists themselves. Hospitalist providers often require income top-ups that ultimately flow from hospital global budgets. At a time when hospitals are already struggling to balance their budgets, the current funding situation is not sustainable.

Hospitalist care is not without its potential pitfalls. Important information can fall through the cracks; particularly when patients transition through the continuum of outpatient and inpatient care. Better integration and communication with community based systems and strategies of care will be required. The issue of the orphan patient often remains unresolved when the patient leaves the hospital. Hospitalist programs nevertheless can have a substantial impact on improving patient safety, patient management, throughput and appropriate placement.

This Insight Information conference is an important opportunity to hear a variety of viewpoints from experienced practitioners and other influential opinion leaders. We invite you to participate in this interactive discussion concerning the future of hospital based care in Canada. It s an opportunity that we believe you won t want to miss.

Sincerely,

Dr. Marcel Dor
Dr. Robert Maloney