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It may seem like something out of a black-and-white movie, but house calls have made their way back into modern medicine.
If you live in Dallas, Texas, you can take advantage of this rising trend in medical care. Prestige Primary Care is on the cutting edge of bringing back house calls for people who have trouble getting to our office due to transportation or mobility challenges.
Here, Dr. Asif Aziz explains why house calls are making a resurgence and how you can benefit.
Why house calls are making a comeback
As medical professionals, we do all we can to improve our patients’ health, which involves more than healing wounds and treating disease. We also want to improve your quality of life in every way possible.
Sadly, many folks can’t access quality medical care because they’re stuck at home without reliable transportation. Others have mobility issues that make it tough to get to the doctor’s office.
Studies show that up to four million Americans could benefit from home-based primary care (a house call) from their doctor, but only 12% have that service. Dr. Aziz is changing that for our Dallas patients.
Three factors are driving the house call resurgence:
- A rapidly aging population
- Increasing advancements in portable medical technology
- Increased Medicare coverage for house calls
Dr. Aziz and our team can care for you or your loved one at home, whether you need basic primary care, an annual physical, diagnostic testing, or chronic disease care. We also help manage your medications and ensure you’re taking them as directed and that you don’t have any adverse reactions or potential interaction problems.
4 benefits of a medical house call
Medical house calls have countless intangible benefits, like peace of mind, reduced stress, and a sense of dignity and privacy. We could go on and one, but here are the top four benefits our patients love.
1. More personalized care
When Dr. Aziz makes house calls, he can gather important information about you that might not come up in a short, in-office visit. For example, he can see your living environment, spot potential fall hazards, observe how you navigate your surroundings, and check your diet and medications.
Instead of just a few minutes in an office, you get Dr. Aziz’s attention for a longer period, giving you ample opportunity to ask questions and receive thoughtful answers.
2. No more waiting
Nothing’s more frustrating than waiting in a doctor’s office. First, you wait in the waiting room; then, you wait in the exam room. Although Dr. Aziz strives to reduce your wait time in our office, the reality is that things get backed up when patients need extra care. We always go the extra mile to ensure we value our patients’ time and health; sometimes, these two efforts overlap.
But with a house call, you get Dr. Aziz all to yourself. The relaxed environment of your home may even affect your blood pressure and heartbeat positively.
3. Increased safety
As Americans age, our senior population will grow considerably. By 2035, experts estimate that there will be 78 million people 65 years and older in the United States, outnumbering the under-18 population (projected to be 76.4 million) for the first time in our history.
This puts a lot of people at a disadvantage when it comes to health care. Many older folks who struggle to walk, never mind getting in a car and driving to see their doctor, can benefit from a house call from Dr. Aziz. In addition to eliminating the need to travel, house calls also ensure you avoid exposure to contagious viral and bacterial illnesses.
4. Decreased hospitalizations
The United States spends a lot on health care, with predictions that it could reach almost 20% of the GDP by 2031. Shockingly, just 5% of patients account for half of the total health care expenditure. These individuals are usually elderly and frail, dealing with various long-term illnesses. Many of them also have unmet behavioral and mental health needs.
Fortunately, studies show that having a physician visit patients at home reduces the readmission rate within 30 days by 25%. The most common intervention during these home visits was adjusting medications. Having easy access to consistent primary care may help prevent visits to the emergency department. Home visits also provide follow-up care until you're feeling better, something that medical clinics and hospitals typically don't offer.
To schedule a house call with Dr. Aziz, contact Prestige Primary Care online or by phone.