The Great Patient Handoff

[George K]

https://www.medpagetoday.com/opinion/second-opinions/95788

Lots of emotion and hand-wringing in the article.

But is the care actually worse?

[Mik]

I experienced exactly what she is talking about in 2019. I never saw the same physician twice in 2 weeks and to some degree the care suffered from it. No hospitalist ever really looked at my chart or seemed to know what was actually going on.

The infectious diseases doc prescribed that I should see them within a week of leaving the hospital. When I called they said they could not see me for three weeks earliest. I got on with my well connected primary care who reshaped their thinking. if I were not assertive and not afraid to challenge doctors it would not have been fixed.

[George K]

I've mentioned this before - with this compartmentalization, the docs frequently don't know whom they're referring to.

Rather than sending you to Dr. IKnowWhatHesReallyDoing, the referral will be to "nephrology," or "GI."

There are enough bad docs out there that this should be worrying. As I've said, I'm fortunate to have connections, even from where I worked long, long ago, to ask for someone to recommend a good doc.

[Jolly]

@george-k said in The Great Patient Handoff:

https://www.medpagetoday.com/opinion/second-opinions/95788

Lots of emotion and hand-wringing in the article.

But is the care actually worse?

Yes.

I've had the wife in hospital, two ED visits and I'm typing this sitting with her in an urgent care. In 7 days. I know how to work the system and this is a charade.

[Axtremus]

@jolly said in The Great Patient Handoff:

I've had the wife in hospital, two ED visits and I'm typing this sitting with her in an urgent care. In 7 days.

Sorry to hear that, hope she gets well soon.