ECONOMIC-EFFECTS OF COMMUNITY VERSUS HOSPITAL-BASED FACULTY PNEUMONIACARE

To compare the length of stay and charges for patients with pneumonia admitted in 1995 to the teaching and nonteaching services of a Northea stern teaching hospital, we reviewed the charts of 237 patients. Patie nts cared for by hospital-based generalists working with housestaff (t eaching service) were discharged more quickly and with lower or equiva lent charges than patients cared for by community-based attending phys icians working either with housestaff (private teaching service) or al one (nonteaching service). Academic teaching services staffed by gener al medicine faculty may provide efficient inpatient pneumonia care.