For several decades, the concept of a family physician providing service at a patient’s home seemed very old-fashioned and almost unimaginable. Today, however, some direct primary care providers in Raleigh are making house calls, just as many of their predecessors used to.
A Brief History
The practice of making house calls became increasingly infrequently during the 1950s and 1960s. It dropped to around 5 percent of medical care in the early 1970s and 1 percent by 1980. In-home visits by direct primary care providers in Raleigh are still uncommon but are being offered by specific doctors wanting to offer a broad range of healthcare services in this manner.
A Variety of Reasons
General practice physicians making home visits do so for a variety of reasons. A prevalent theme is wanting to offer more personalized care for each patient instead of feeling rushed with a backlog of appointments every day. Some doctors provide in-home urgent care service so sick and injured people do not need to wait in a long line.
A Distinct Advantage
A distinct advantage for the doctor is being able to see the person’s home environment. The physician gets a much better sense of the individual’s and family’s lifestyle. A patient who has denied that anyone in the home smokes, for instance, will have trouble continuing with that fib if the smell of smoke is in the air and cigarette butts are visible in ashtrays. The home may be noticeably dusty and cluttered. Both situations could worsen allergies and asthma.
