Michael A. Steinman, M.D., and Andrew D. Auerbach, M.D., of the University of California, San Francisco, suggest "management of chronic disease in hospitalized patients is best done in coordination with the patient's outpatient clinician, if available, with two-way communication. Acute care and chronic disease care can be a difficult fit; some acute care may not match the patient's long-term needs. A thoughtful approach to managing chronic diseases in the inpatient setting can better align inpatient and outpatient care to improve outcomes both immediately and in the long term."