A few generations ago, doctors routinely made house calls. The trusted town doctor, carrying a familiar black medical bag, came to tend a sick child, see to an elder whose arthritis was acting up (but who mostly wanted to chat) and to check on the health of the sweet wheelchair-bound lady who’d had polio in her youth. These visits were never rushed; doc took the time to really listen to what was going on with patients, called the kids by name, and sometimes prescribed bed rest and chicken soup along with any necessary medication.
As the health care system evolved, house calls slowly declined. In 1930, about 40 percent of doctors still made house calls. By 1980, that number was down to just one percent, according to U.S. News & World Report.
Solving the Doctor’s Office Visit Dilemma
In recent decades, the sick and injured have had to make their way to a medical office in order to be treated, which means lost work time, traffic and waiting rooms — not to mention exposure to other people’s germs. Visiting a doctor’s office is often fraught with stress, especially for someone who doesn’t drive, has small children, or is dealing with multiple health issues. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have the doctor come to you, like in the old days?
Thanks to technology, house calls are again growing in popularity — and they’re better than ever, because they can be customized to meet each person’s unique needs.
Here are just some of the situations a 24/7 comprehensive home health service provider can remedy:
- Sick child. Late in the evening, your 5-year-old develops a high fever and complains of pain in his left ear. You have two other young children at home, and your partner is away on business with the car. You can’t take all three kids on a bus at this hour, and since the doctor’s office is closed, you’d have to go to the emergency room. The solution: contact a board certified doctor via phone or video chat. If your child requires a house call, a doctor can be on the way within minutes.
- Caregiver respite. Your elderly mom’s caregiver has to leave town suddenly to deal with a family matter. How are you going to find and vet a capable, trustworthy replacement quickly? Rely on a complete care at home service to provide personalized matching with a qualified caregiving professional, whether you need someone one time or on an ongoing basis.
- Lab test. Dad needs a weekly blood draw to monitor his new medication for congestive heart failure. It’s a simple procedure that takes just a few minutes at the clinic, but getting there is exhausting for him — and time consuming for you, if you have to take time off work to accompany him. A home medical visit from a lab test professional is a simple, convenient solution.
- Rehab therapy. A few weeks ago, you fell on the ice and broke your arm in four places. Ouch! It’s healing nicely, but you need physical therapy to regain your strength and flexibility — and obviously you can’t drive to the appointments. Your friend tells you about a service that provides physical therapists who can come to your home. Problem solved.
With an all-in-one solution at your fingertips, home health care becomes the trusted house call doctor of yesteryear, upgraded. Today’s home medical professionals carry digital devices in lieu of black medical bags — and they still know the wisdom of listening. We bet a lot of doctors and nurses still believe in the healing power of chicken soup, too.
