i recently needed to be hospitalized due multipule complications due to lupus. I had done everything my PCP had asked me to do including 3 trips to the ER which we both thought would result in my being admitted. Due to the new hospitalist system I was not. Not only was I discourage and frustrated but so was my doctor. After 4 weeks of various oral antibiotics and op wound care my PCP called a personal friend who happened to be one of the hosptialist on duty that day and I was admited. This delay almost cost me my leg. Because this grp of doctors did not now me or understand how my body reacted to various things due to the Lupus I ended up with more complications and what should have been 7 days of IV antibiotics ended up being a 26 day hosptial day. this new system may work for those who do not have chrtonic autoimmune diseases but for those of us who do ......well they are going to kill us. I am a nurse and for the most part very good at advocating for myself . I can not imagine someone who dose not understand their disease process or who can not advocate for themselves what they would go through. I fully believe every American should be able to afford health care coverage and was for reform in the begining but now I just dont know. dose reform mean coverage at the cost of life for those of us who have had coverage all along and have chronic illness?