Background: Over the last few decades, medicine has seen increasing specialization and a proliferation of roles, trends which can complicate patient care in the hospital setting. Inpatient care teams are comprised of many types of members, and the boundaries between roles can change and at times be ambiguous, e.g., between hospitalist and subspecialist consultants. In [...]

Background: Electronic health applications that aim to share personalized medical information with patients are not frequently found in hospital settings. These inpatient applications can empower patients and caregivers to review and monitor their most updated medical information and improve communication between patients and their providers (such as clinicians, nurses, case managers etc.). However, these applications [...]

Background: Discharge planning should begin at the time of admission and, among its many purposes, involves preparing patients for the transition out of the hospital. Unfortunately, many hospitalized patients do not understand or agree with their provider about their discharge plan, including the timing and location of dismissal. When patients and their providers do not [...]

Background: For hospitalists who are at the forefront of inpatient general medicine, clear communication is crucial to a successful provider-patient relationship and optimal care delivery. Uncertainty around provider roles and medical terminology can negatively impact patients’ experience and understanding of their care. Therefore, the aim of this study is to assess patients’ understanding of the [...]

Background: Diagnostic errors are often attributed to cognitive and systems factors, including breakdowns in patient-clinician communication. The COVID-19 pandemic has limited this communication due to institutional infection control policies and physical distancing mandates, potentially increasing risk of diagnostic error. Virtually administered questionnaires that engage patients in assessing their experience with the diagnostic process have potential [...]

Background: Immobility in the hospital setting is associated with persistent inability to perform activities of daily living, increased length of stay, and decreased return to independent living; this loss of function is identified by patients as a commonly unaddressed barrier to discharge. The reasons for immobility are multifactorial; however, lack of provider interest or value [...]

Background: Patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) often face frequent emergency department (ED) visits and hospital readmissions, primarily driven by challenges in pain management, stigma, and system-level barriers. Existing interventions at the CU Division of Hospital Medicine, such as cohorting patients with specific teams, multidisciplinary care conferences, and implementing care plans for high-utilizer patients, have [...]