Story Ideas for Journalists

Sound offers the following story ideas. We have hospitalist physicians, company executives and media relations personnel who can provide background information, statistics and quotes for these story ideas.

What is a hospitalist? The next time you are hospitalized, there's a high likelihood that you will be cared for by a hospitalist. As recently as March 2005, veteran interviewer Larry King of CNN was unfamiliar with the term "hospitalist" when he first encountered a hospitalist live on the air. "Have you ever heard of a hospitalist? I've never heard of that," King said. Unfortunately, most people are unfamiliar with this fastest-growing specialty in medicine. Increase the awareness of Americans by reporting about this medical specialty.
Ten tips on how to be a better hospital patient – The 300-plus physicians with Sound Inpatient Physicians care for more than 100,000 patients each year. We surveyed these physicians and uncovered some remarkably simple steps patient's can take to positively influence their hospital stay. Help people improve their inpatient experience by sharing these practical tips.
Five steps you can take to increase your health literacy – Health literacy is defined as: "The ability of an individual to access, understand and use health-related information and services to make appropriate health decisions." Yet in today's complex world of healthcare, far too few Americans understand the directions they are given by their physician – either written or verbal - or the instructions printed on their medications. Our physicians provide five steps each person can take to improve their own health literacy and positively impact their experience in the world of medicine.
Ten ways Sound hospitalists reduce healthcare costs – Pressure continues to mount nationally to reduce the rising cost of healthcare in America. While many engage in idle talk, our hospitalists work closely with our partner hospitals to wring out healthcare costs through such strategies as: more efficient admission and discharge, uniform patient care pathways, increased hospital bed efficiency, reducing readmissions, more accurate billing practices, enhancing patient care with specialists, and closely coordinating care with hospital case managers. Our hospitalists work as consultants in tandem with hospital administrators and their medical staff. We can provide journalists with details on 10 areas where Sound hospitalists are reducing healthcare costs.
Five chronic health conditions most frequently treated by hospitalists – Medical treatment provided in hospitals today is vastly different today than when hospitals were first built. In the beginning, hospitals focused on treating patients with trauma or an infectious disease. Today, hospitalists most frequently care for patients with one or more chronic health conditions, or co-morbidities. We can help you prepare a story or sidebar on the momentous evolution of medicine in the 21st century.
Q&A interview with Dr. Robert Bessler, CEO, Sound Inpatient Physicians – Dr. Robert Bessler, a longtime emergency room/trauma physician, saw the future of medicine when he founded a new hospitalist organization called Sound Inpatient Physicians. We are excited to offer qualified journalists an opportunity to speak directly with Dr. Robert Bessler regarding the role of hospitalists, and the state of hospitalist medicine – and where he believes it will head over the next decade.

We have a number of informational graphics and photographs to supplement these stories. If you have a specific interest, please complete our Media Request Form. Or call us at (888) 682-1710.