Comparisons of family physicians and internists. Process and outcome in adult patients at a community hospital.

In view of the relatively high cost and mortality associated with hospitalization, 1,989 inpatients of family physicians and internists were compared with regard to length of stay, charges generated, charges generated per day, disposition (home, death, or other), number and type of diagnoses, and number of procedures. There were no interspecialty differences in mean length of stay (9 days), charges generated ($3,604), charges per day ($475), number of procedures done or disposition (79% went home, 9.5% died, and 11.5% had other placements). There were interspecialty differences in the type of diagnoses coded (chi-square = 52, P