Primary care physicians and hospitalists: two branches of the same tree.

The success of the evolving filed of pediatric hospitalist medicine should be judged on the health outcomes achieved for the more than 6 million children who are hospitalized annually. The focused approach hospitalists bring to defining the best knowledge that their role is important but is limited in the overall health of most children. In order to achieve the best health outcomes, hospitalists must fully partner with the child's primary care provider. By consistently communicating well during pre-admission, hospitalization, and discharge intervals, hospitalists and primary care pediatricians can enhance learning, as well as maximize outcomes for shared patients.