You won’t necessarily be admitted to the hospital. Here’s why.

When we take our sick or injured loved ones to the hospital, we often hope that they will be admitted. In many instances, this is a very reasonable request. When heart or lung disease are at work, when severe infections, dehydration, fractures or strokes occur, admission may well be the only option. However, sometimes our desire to admit our family members is a throwback to a simpler time in medicine; particularly where the elderly are concerned. I don’t know how many times I have heard this, or some variation: “Doc, I know you say she’s fine, and all the tests are normal, but if you could just put mama in for a few days so she could get some rest, I think it would work wonders!” When I was a younger doctor, without reading glasses and a gray-streaked beard, we called them “social admissions,” but we all knew that they were often necessary for pain control, or simply because the patient’s home life was so horrific. In the days when people were generally admitted by their own physicians, it was simple stuff. “Hey Billy, Mr. Mason is feeling very weak. We can’t find anything wrong, but he just doesn’t walk well.” “Wow, Ed, that’s odd. He’s never like that! Let’s just watch him overnight.” Continue reading ... Your patients are rating you online: How to respond. Manage your online reputation: A social media guide. Find out how.
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - Category: Journals (General) Authors: Tags: Physician Hospital Hospitalist Source Type: blogs