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Medical Conditions: Digestive Medicine
Different doctors sometimes treat the same medical problem different ways. In each community there are different options for caring for patients. Some involve putting a patient in the hospital and others don’t. Some communities are so spread out that some people have to travel a long way to get care. Sometimes, patients who live very far from the hospital are admitted because it is safer and more convenient.
These and other factors help explain why patients with the same health problems are put in the hospital in one town, while in another town the same patient is sent home to be cared for by their family.
Inpatient hospital care is expensive. The same amount of money we spend caring for one patient in the hospital might care for many patients getting care outside of the hospital.
When it is necessary, patients should be hospitalized. We also understand that avoidable admissions waste money and may not be as safe for the patient. Sometimes, it works best to be cared for outside of the hospital.
The Maine Quality Forum urges you to begin a community discussion about how and where your community treats medical problems. A good place to start is with your physicians, family, and friends.
