Nurse-physician communication in home care and hospice: a physician's point of view

As economic pressure continues to mount within the medical system, more and more patient contact is shifting away from expensive inpatient care. Initially, the shift in patient visits was away from the hospital and into clinics and the physicians offices. With the growth of capitated medical groups and prepaid care, not just inpatient days are declining. With efforts to control costs, the numbers of physician office and clinic visits are declining also.