Three Degrees of Separation

On Being a Doctor15 December 2009Three Degrees of SeparationHoward Beckman, MDHoward Beckman, MDSearch for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-151-12-200912150-00011 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail In February 1994, Ms. Sampson's emphysema was causing shortness of breath, which limited her activities. I advised her to call if her respiratory symptoms worsened. Two days later, she did. I saw her in the office, began treatment with oral steroids, advised an increase in her rescue β2-agonist inhaler, and started antibiotic treatment.The next morning she was worse. I advised her to go to the emergency department and asked our practice staff to fax over information. I arrived after the emergency department staff had seen her and reviewed films and blood gas results that revealed an increasing Pco2. Consulting ... Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Note: The name and the details of care have been changed to protect the patient's anonymity.Corresponding Author: Howard Beckman, MD; e-mail, [email protected]org. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoThe Relationship Between Hospitalists and Primary Care Physicians Robert M. Wachter The Relationship Between Hospitalists and Primary Care Physicians Carl H. Reynolds , Balazs Zsenits , and Walter A. Polashenski The Relationship Between Hospitalists and Primary Care Physicians Mark J. Ault The Relationship Between Hospitalists and Primary Care Physicians Michael D. Stillman The Relationship Between Hospitalists and Primary Care Physicians P. Dileep Kumar Metrics Cited byThe Role of Medical Culture in the Journey to ResilienceUse of Hospitalists and Office-Based Primary Care Physicians’ ProductivityOpportunities for Cost Reduction of Medical Care: Part 3Transition of Patients with COPD Across Different Care Settings: Challenges and Opportunities for HospitalistsDetecting Delayed Microbiology Results After Hospital Discharge: Improving Patient Safety Through an Automated Medical Informatics ToolSurvivorship Will Be the Defining Challenge of Critical Care in the 21st CenturyTheodore J. Iwashyna, MD, PhDFrustrations With Hospitalist Care: Need to Improve Transitions and CommunicationThe EditorsThe Relationship Between Hospitalists and Primary Care PhysiciansRobert M. Wachter, MDThe Relationship Between Hospitalists and Primary Care PhysiciansCarl H. Reynolds, MD, Balazs Zsenits, MD, and Walter A. Polashenski, MDThe Relationship Between Hospitalists and Primary Care PhysiciansMark J. Ault, MDThe Relationship Between Hospitalists and Primary Care PhysiciansMichael D. Stillman, MDThe Relationship Between Hospitalists and Primary Care PhysiciansP. Dileep Kumar, MD 15 December 2009Volume 151, Issue 12Page: 890-891KeywordsComputed axial tomographyEmergency departmentHospital medicineHospitalistsHospitalizationsMotivationNursesPatientsPrimary care physiciansSteroids ePublished: 15 December 2009 Issue Published: 15 December 2009 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2009 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...