House call

A house call is a visit to the home of a patient or client by a doctor or other professional. In some locations, families used to pay dues to a particular practice to underwrite house calls. A house call is a visit to the home of a patient or client by a doctor or other professional. In some locations, families used to pay dues to a particular practice to underwrite house calls. In the early 1930s, house calls by doctors were 40% of doctor-patient meetings. By 1980, it was only 0.6%. Reasons include increased specialization and technology. In the 1990s, team home care, including physician visits, was a small but growing field in health care, for frail older people with chronic illnesses. The reasons for fewer house calls include concerns about providing low-overhead care in the home, time inefficiency, and inconvenience. Yet, there are more and more doctors who like the idea of no office overhead. Also, it can provide safe access to care by people who are ill. Today, house calls may be making a revival among the wealthy through concierge telemedicine and mobile apps like Heal. In 2012 as part of its Action Plan for Healthcare the province of Ontario actively expanded funding for access to house calls with its primary focus being on seniors and those with physical limitations making it difficult for travel outside the home. Residents of Ontario with valid Ontario Health Insurance Plan cards are able to take advantage of the house call system, and arrange for appointments with physicians at their home. Currently, this service is only available in Toronto. In the United States, leadership such as George Washington were known to receive house calls. Upon his deathbed in 1799, President Washington received a house call prior to his passing. Presently, the United States' leadership retain a Physician to the President on staff. Most recently, an app called 'Heal' allows citizens to receive house call services in the Los Angeles, California area.