Impact of Hospitalist Programs on Perceived Care Quality, Interprofessional Collaboration, and Communication: Lessons from Implementation of 3 Hospital Medicine Programs in Canada

Abstract

ver the past 2 decades, the hospitalist model has become prevalent in Canada and internationally. 1 Hospitalist care has been associated with improvements in efficiency and quality of care. [2][3][4][5][6] However, less is known about its impact on the quality of interprofessional communication, teamwork, and staff satisfaction. In a 2012 study of a specialized orthopedic facility in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), Ontario, Webster et al found a pervasive perception among interviewees that the addition of a hospitalist resulted in improved patient safety, expedited transfers, enhanced communication with Primary Care Providers (PCPs), and better continuity of care. 7 They also identified enhanced collaboration among providers since the addition of the hospitalist to the care team. In another study of 5 community hospitals in the GTA, Conn et al 8 found that staff on General Internal Medicine wards where hospitalists worked described superior interprofessional collaboration, deeper interpersonal relationships between physicians and other care team members, and a higher sense of "team-based care."Fraser Health Authority (FH) is an integrated regional health system with one of the largest regional Hospital