Patients with upper GI bleeds attended by hospitalists

---had higher costs per case in this study. Hospitalists also had higher 30 day readmission rates at borderline statistical significance.

The 30 day readmission rate is intuitive, because patients cared for by hospitalists may not receive optimal out patient follow up compared to patients cared for in the hospital by their long term physicians.

Why the increased charge per case? My very biased explanation has to do with the fact that the gastroenterologist is in charge of the care of the patient. Hospitalists, compared to their non-hospitalist peers, may be more active in comanagement of these patients. This comanagement is redundant and may lead to inefficiencies.