January Newsletter
It’s no secret in the medical community that when an uninsured person needs urgent medical care, the only recourse usually available is the local emergency room. Emergency room care is more expensive and does not focus on the patient long term condition or treatment. After the patient’s condition has been stabilized, they are usually referred to clinics that require insurance or a cash payment. Many of these patients are “lost to follow-up.” Emergent care isn’t set up for primary or preventative care.
Currently the program directors and program coordinators are working on the Program Information Forms (PIF), so be aware that they may be contacting you to obtain information to complete their respective PIF.
I am certain the task of spreading the word about what a hospitalist is continues to be germane, as I continue to encounter the same blank stares and quizzical expressions I did two years ago when discussing my position.
Heart disease is the number one cause of death in Wisconsin, accounting for more than 16,000 deaths annually, or 35 percent of all deaths in the state. The considerable disability and mortality of the heart disease puts emotional and financial stress on individuals and their families. Rates of obesity, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia are on the rise in Wisconsin and these cardiovascular risks are affecting Wisconsin residents at an even younger age.