Revolutionizing Healthcare: The Rise of House Calls
House calls were once a routine part of healthcare provision before fading away in the 20th Century. However, in recent years, the concept of house calls has been revived, and these days, it is known as a new way of providing healthcare services, often referred to as “home healthcare.” This modern version of house calls is revolutionizing the way healthcare services are delivered, disrupting the traditional model of providing healthcare from hospital or clinic-based settings. In this blog post, we will discuss this trend, explore the reasons behind its success, and highlight its potential benefits.
1) The convenience of housecalls: One of the primary reasons behind the rising popularity of house calls is the convenience it offers to patients. With the advent of technologically-advanced medical equipment, house calls are no longer restricted to treating minor ailments. Patients can access a wide range of healthcare services, from blood and urine tests to x-rays and ultrasounds, even at home. Patients save time and money by avoiding trips to the hospital or clinic, and instead, receive medical attention right in their home.
2) Improved patient engagement: The patient-clinician relationship is also strengthened with house calls, improving the overall patient engagement. Studies have shown that patients are more involved and motivated to take charge of their own healthcare when their clinicians visit them at home. Additionally, some house call providers, such as traditional home-based primary care providers, even offer 24/7 telehealth services to their patients.
3) Reduced hospital readmissions: House calls can help prevent hospital readmissions by offering patients ongoing medical care in their homes. When patients are discharged from the hospital after surgery or treatment, they still require follow-up visits and monitoring for their continued recovery. As many complications arise during recovery, such as medication errors or infections, having a clinician visit patients in their homes can significantly reduce the risk of readmission.
4) Lowering healthcare costs: House calls are also becoming an essential solution for reducing healthcare costs significantly. As hospitals and clinics struggle to combat an epidemic of chronic disease, house calls providers offer an affordable and efficient way of ensuring patients can manage their medical conditions from home. The costs associated with maintaining hospitals and clinics are significant, and remote telehealth providers help reduce the burden by decreasing hospital visits and readmissions.
5) Enhanced quality of life: Finally, house calls improve the overall quality of life for the patients who receive healthcare services at home. Patients with mobility issues, chronic diseases, or mental health conditions particularly benefit from house calls as they remain in an environment that is familiar and comfortable to them instead of worrying about traveling to the hospital. The home environment also enables clinicians to observe their patients’ day-to-day habits, providing potentially valuable data to create more comprehensive care plans.
In short
The trend of house calls has come a long way from its origins in the past. In recent years, it has re-emerged with renewed strength and breathed new life into the healthcare system, offering patients more options and flexibility in how and where they receive healthcare services. With an aging population and an increase in the prevalence of chronic diseases, house calls and other home healthcare services are sure to remain an essential part of the healthcare ecosystem. The benefits of house calls for patients are numerous, including convenience, improved engagement, lower costs, reduced hospital readmissions, and enhanced quality of life, and healthcare providers who are offering house calls and home healthcare services are revolutionizing the future of healthcare.