The dermatology hospitalist: creating value by rapid clinical pathologic correlation in a patient-centered care model.

BACKGROUND: The active and continuous presence of dermatologists in hospitals has undergone continued involution over the past two decades. Our patient-centered, value-based dermatology hospitalist model describes an efficient system for the integration of the dermatologist in the hospital treatment team.
METHODS: We describe five difficult inpatient cases to illustrate the value of dermatology intervention and clinical pathologic correlation in facilitating timely diagnosis and treatment.
RESULTS: Prompt specialty evaluation and clinicopathologic correlation by hospital dermatologists led to decreased morbidity and the avoidance of delay in initiating definitive treatment.
CONCLUSIONS: Efficient evaluation and clinicopathologic correlation by dermatology hospitalists are essential to hospitals that provide comprehensive care. This value-based model has the potential to produce better patient outcomes and greater satisfaction in both patients and other health care providers.