Staying Healthy
Why won't my primary care doctor oversee my hospital care?
Ask the doctor
Q. My doctor says he'll no longer be the one responsible for my care if I need to be hospitalized. Instead, hospital doctors will be responsible. Why is that?
A. In the United States over the past 20 years, a new type of doctor — the hospitalist — has increasingly become responsible for the care of many patients in the hospital. While it's new in the United States, this has been the model for a long time in many other countries.
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About the Author
Anthony L. Komaroff, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Health Letter
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