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SIUSLAW NEWS |
SATURDAY, AUGUST 5, 2017
TO YOUR
GOOD HEALTH
What Kind of Doctor
Is a ‘Hospitalist’?
DEAR DR. ROACH: I recently
spent four days in the hospital for
a respiratory infection. I was not
admitted to my primary-care doc-
tor’s service, but had three names
on my wristband. When I inquired
as to who they were, I was told that
they were hospitalists. They would
see me and communicate with my
primary-care physician. I did not see
the same doctor more than once in
my four-day admission. When I saw
my PCP after discharge, he did say
he had been in contact with the hos-
pitalists.
Is this common? Who is absorb-
ing the cost? Does my PCP bill for
consultation? -- M.M.E.
ANSWER: Hospitalists are spe-
cialists in inpatient medicine. Hos-
pitalists typically have no outpatient
responsibilities, and spend the entire
day in the hospital taking care of ad-
mitted patients only. Because they
are constantly in the hospital, they
SALOME’S STARS
ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Re-
lationships continue to thrive, but
watch for any telltale signs of potential
problems. Take needed action now to
set things straight before they become
troublesome later.
TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Your
powers of persuasion, backed up, of
course, by your considerable exper-
tise, help you establish your case even
to the most dubious decision-makers
in your workplace.
GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) You
might still be a bit reluctant to face up
to some less-than-pleasant realities.
But the sooner you accept the facts,
the sooner you can set about making
some needed changes.
CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Ex-
pect to make adjustments, even when
usually can see an admitted patient
more expeditiously than a doctor
with outpatient responsibilities, and
they tend to become expert and effi -
cient at managing serious illness re-
quiring hospitalization. Most studies
comparing hospitalists with doctors
who do both outpatient and inpatient
medicine have shown that hospital-
ists facilitate decreased lengths of
stay in the hospital and at least as
good medical outcomes. The theory
is that by specializing in just inpa-
tient medicine, one can become ex-
pert as well as very effi cient at using
the resources available at a particu-
lar hospital.
The potential downside of hospi-
talists is that the personal knowledge
about a particular patient isn’t as
high. Your PCP knows you -- hope-
fully very well, if he or she has been
taking care of you for a long time.
Although your records may be avail-
able to the hospitalists, it isn’t the
same as personal knowledge. That
being said, with good communica-
tion (both ways) between your doc-
tor and the hospitalists, the quality of
care can be excellent.
There is no doubt that the hospi-
talist model is increasing in preva-
lence in the U.S. and Canada.
In answer to your question, your
insurance company (or the govern-
ment) pays the hospitalist directly.
The PCP does not bill for consulta-
tion.
DEAR DR. ROACH: My hus-
band has Meniere’s disease. We can-
not fi nd anyone who can help him.
Is there any medication for this? --
L.M.
ANSWER: Meniere’s disease
causes episodes of vertigo, tinnitus
and eventually hearing loss. It is
caused by swelling in the organ of
balance in the inner ear, but the rea-
son for the swelling isn’t clear.
Before being seen by a doctor,
your husband can try to identify
triggers for the attacks. Common
triggers include a high-salt diet, to-
bacco, alcohol and stress. A low-salt
diet can dramatically reduce epi-
sodes.
ENT doctors are usually expert in
treating Meniere’s disease. A diuret-
ic such as hydrochlorothiazide often
is used if diet alone doesn’t help.
The booklet on vertigo explains
this disruptive condition in detail and
outlines its treatment. Readers can
order a copy by writing: Dr. Roach
-- No. 801W, 628 Virginia Drive,
Orlando, FL 32803. Enclose a check
or money order (no cash) for $4.75
U.S./$6 Canada with the recipient’s
printed name and address. Please al-
low four weeks for delivery.
things seem locked up and ready to
go. But cheer up: At least one change
could lead to something you’ve been
hoping for.
LEO (July 23 to August 22) Th e
success of a recent project should do a
lot to boost your self-confi dence. You
might want to start now to check out
ways to make that long-deferred big-
ger and bolder move.
VIRGO (August 23 to September
22) Ease up on the pressure you might
be putting on the new person in your
life. It takes time for a budding rela-
tionship to blossom. Show more pa-
tience and understanding.
LIBRA (September 23 to October
22) You have lots of inner strength in
reserve. Use some of it to resist intim-
idation from those who might try to
impose on your good nature for their
own reasons.
SCORPIO (October 23 to Novem-
ber 21) Th e good news is that your
on-the-job status is improving. Th e
one cautionary note, however, in-
volves a personal situation you might
have been ignoring for too long.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to
December 21) Congratulations. Once
again, your sharp Sagittarian “horse
sense” helps you work through a com-
plicated situation that would leave
most people confused.
CAPRICORN (December 22 to
January 19) Plan on indulging your-
self in some well-earned good times
through much of the week. Th en be
prepared to face some thought-pro-
voking issues by the 19th.
AQUARIUS (January 20 to Febru-
ary 18) Positive factors continue to
dominate following a recent change in
both your professional and personal
lives. Expect to make contact with
someone from your past.
PISCES (February 19 to March 20)
Workplace stability allows you to con-
tinue making progress on your proj-
ects. But don’t ignore your personal
life. Spend more quality time with
those special folks.
Siuslaw N ews
!
AD IT DAY
E
R
TO
UNCLE FRANK IS BACK!
Frank’s 101 Barber Shop
Don’t lie to me or steal from me a nd I will do the sa me!
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Taking lunch from Noon - 1:00 It is a must!
Fra nk is at the Barbershop on Mon, Tues, Thurs a nd Friday, 9-3