Maggie's Farm

Do you want a "hospitalist" when you get sick? I want my own Doc. Or my Veterinarian.

Your doctor may be fishing or playing golf, NJ, and the last thing he/she probably wants to do is stop and come to the hospital. If we (hospital nurses) didn't have the physician associates, nurse practitioners and house physicians, who are the eyes and ears of the attending doc, not much would get done in a timely manner for the patient. They are usually excellent in their practice, and even during a short stay, will get to know the patient quite well.

Did you know that many primary care nurse practitioners make house and hospital calls, including nights and weekends? Many are gladly trying to fill the role that the general practitioner physicians used to occupy; almost all have some form of physician collaboration/consulation/supervision, per state law. Marcus Welby, MD, went out of business a long time ago.

My other passion is homecare, and last week, my patient's physician, when told of a new low blood pressure event, suggested I (5PM on a Friday evening) take the patient to the hospital, if I was worried. He (the MD) had no desire to come see the patient, and knew the hospitalists would tend to her over the weekend. BTW, the only way I have to admit a patient is through the emergency department, so I have to think about the potential waste of time. vs. risk for subjecting the pt to the 12 hour wait on a Friday night.

Also, there is a movement afoot to utilize veterinarians in some sort of primary care human role!