Care your way to LOS solutions

As I looked down at her sad face and saw the disappointment in her eyes, I had to do something! She was in the area for a great cause; the hospitalization was an unexpected nuisance that threatened to destroy her entire trip. The solution was simple. I called her pharmacist in California and found out that her copay for Zyvox was an affordable $30, so I could safely discharge her in time for her banquet. While that falls far short of an near-miracle that changed a life, my simple effort made a big difference for her.

The point is that when we focus on the patient’s entire needs – not just the disease that brought them to the hospital in the first place – we can create solutions to many of their problems. Sometimes it’s the finishing touches, not just the medical care, that patients remember most.

Dr. Hester is a hospitalist at Baltimore-Washington Medical Center in Glen Burnie, Md. She is the creator of the Patient Whiz, a patient-engagement app for iOS. Reach her at healthsavvy@aol.com.