Background: During hospitalization, many patients cannot identify the physician responsible for their care. Among patients cared for by a hospitalist, many of them are meeting their hospitalist for the first time. Previous work has shown that patients can meet up to 7 physicians and 18 other health professionals during a hospital stay. The large number [...]

Background: Effective doctor-patient communication is crucial for the exchange of important information. Improved communication can positively influence patient satisfaction, adherence and ultimately can lead to improvement in health outcomes.Patient satisfaction scores in the inpatient setting are elicited using the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey. Effective communication between a physician and [...]