Most people don't expect to be introduced to a doctor they've never met when a loved one is admitted to the hospital. A hospitalist manages your care during your stay — and understanding how that handoff works can help you make sure nothing falls through the cracks when you go home.

Most families don't think about going home until someone says it's time. A nurse with 34 years of experience explains why that's almost always too late — and how one question asked on day one can change everything.