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The true core of good medicine 35

is not an institution but a

relationship — a relationship

between two human beings.

And the better those two human

beings know one another, the

greater the potential that their

relationship will prove

“effective and fulfilling for both.
by Eta Kushner

system has been evolving for many years, and the changes
can be disconcerting. The current model, which has become
more evident recently, is similar to what is done in other parts
of the world, including Canada, European countries, and
Israel. Namely, once you are admitted to the hospital, you
come under the care of the doctors employed by the hospi-
tal, called “hospitalists,” and your primary care physician can
no longer officially be involved in the management of your
case until after your discharge.

”What’s Good About It?

There are certain advantages to this system. The hospitalists
and their teams of medical staff in the hospital are right there
24/7. They can see the patient several times a day, run tests,
get the results immediately, and decide on treatment. This
usually allows for a shorter hospital stay, which can be an
advantage to the patient as well as to the hospital. Many
patients are quite satisfied with the care they receive in this
way. Shmuel* was so thrilled with his experience under a hos-
pitalist’s care that he wrote an unsolicited letter to Sinai
praising his doctor to make sure that he was recognized for
his exceptional skill and caring attitude.

I also contacted two friends who live in Europe to ask if

* a pseudonym

u 410 358 8509 u