Physician Housecalls

An increasing number of physicians and healthcare providers are adding house calls to their repertoire of services. There are also some agencies that only provide home medical care (HMC). I have to admit that when I think of physicians who provide house calls, I think of Tom Cruise’s character in Eyes Wide Shut. I know… I know…I’m dreaming. To bring us back to reality, medical house calls are becoming popular services to time starved workers who are working longer hours - often arriving home after regular medical office hours and feel they are unable to take time off due to increased workloads and pending projects. Medical housecalls are also proving beneficial to the aging population in the United States by providing medical services in-home, in retirement facilities and the like. Home medical care is increasing in many countries and is becoming a viable option to provide confidential and individualized medical care.

Some of the medical providers specialize in providing primary health care services to Medicare patients in their homes, senior / assisted living facilities with the belief that the home setting can be less expensive than some hospital based options. Also, it may be impossible at times to get patients with certain conditions to the doctor’s office for primary care.

As with all physicians, make sure that they are board certified and that all other medical personnel possess current state licensure and operate within their scope of practice. These home medical care providers do not respond to life threatening emergencies. When there is a life threatening emergency, call 911 (in the U.S. / Canada) or the number for the medical emergency responders in your area.

To give you some idea of health care providers who do house calls, take a look at these examples in New York and the San Francisco Bay Area as well as a few areas in between.

San Francisco Bay Area

My Doctor Medical Group - 450 Sutter Street, Suite 300 San Francisco, CA 94108, (415) 963-4431 http://mydoctorsf.com/

My Doctor Medical Group specializes in primary care, travel medicine, integrative medicine and addiction treatment.They provide care for most age groups. They are also involved in health advocacy and will become the liaisons between the patient and other health care providers and explain treatment options. On site and executive medical services are available for individuals and small or large groups.

Elder Consult - 533 Airport Road, Suite 400 Burlingame, CA 94010, (650) 357-8834 http://elderconsult.com/

Elder Consult provides home medical care related to the elderly population. They provide elder consults completed in home, skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, etc. All physicians are board certified and geriatric nurse practitioners are also available. For appointments, send email to office@elderconsult.comor call (650) 357-8834.

Current Health - 490 Post Street, Suite 710 San Francisco, CA, Phone: 415-732- 7029 Fax 415-732-7030 http://currenthealth.com/

House calls can be made 24 hours a day; Current Health is a fee-for-service medical practice with a monthly membership fee. This means payment is received at the time you receive care. They provide prefilled reimbursement forms to submit to your insurance company;provides comprehensive primary care for all age groups, 24-hour urgent care, pediatrics, and integrative / naturopathic medicine. Current Health also offers employer and group plans. For appointments, telephone or send emailto office@currenthealth.com

Urgent and Med House Calls - 2130 Fillmore Street, PMB397, San Francisco, California, 94115, Telephone: 415-680-4153 / 1-800-767-4058 (Toll Free USA)http://www.urgentmedhousecalls.com/contact-us/

Urgent and Med House Calls serve the SF Bay Area as well as Monterey Peninsula. They are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week offering urgent care in homes, hotels, etc. They offer the following: Adult and Pediatric Care, Medication, Stitches / Splints / Other First Aid / portable X-ray. See website for extensive services / call for pricing and free estimates.

UCSF Mt Zion Housecalls Program - 1600 Divisadero, San Francisco, CA 9411, (415) 514-3577 http://geriatrics.medicine.ucsf.edu/care/housecalls.html

UCSF Mt. Zion Housecalls Program specializes in geriatric medicine. They provide primary care to homebound seniors in all neighborhoods in San Francisco, CA. The program accepts Medicare, Medi-Cal and supplemental insurance. This is a wonderful program that not only provides medical care, but helps to reduce the stress of patients and caregivers. Attempting to transport a loved one for medical care can be extremely challenging when they suffer from chronic debilitating conditions.

Doc on the Run - Mailing Address: 236 West Portola Ave., Suite 332, San Francisco, CA 94127, House Call Scheduling in San Francisco: (415) 308-0833 email: appointments@docontherun.com

Doc on the Run is operated by award winning Foot / Ankle Surgeon, Dr. Christopher Segler, who provides podiatry house calls in the San Francisco Bay Area.He has a host of services which includes, but not limited to treating twisted / sprained ankles, trimming thick / difficult to cut toenails, and treating the diabetic foot. He also makes custom orthotics for runners.See the extensive website for fees and additional information.

New York Area

Metro Medical Direct - Mailing Address: 435 E. 70th St, Suite 13C, New York, NY 10021 (917) 484-2709 http://metromedicaldirect.com/OurServices/tabid/14331/Default.aspx

Metro Medical Direct makes housecalls to the New York City Area offering various services including, primary care services, geriatric assessments, comprehensive physicals, telemedicine (featuring webcams, electronic prescriptions and IM Chat for established patient follow-up). Shortly, they will offer Pediatric and Well-Baby Care Housecalls.

Sickday Medical Housecall - (212) sickday, same as (212) 742-5329 http://sickdayhousecalls.com/services.php

Sickday Medical Housecall provides in home medical care primarily to Manhattan, NY. They provide primary, acute / urgent care and have a flat fee of $250, which does not include lab test or other diagnostic services seven days a week from 6:00 AM - 11:00 PM.Visit their site for a comprehensive list of conditions that they treat, which includes but not limited to cuts / lacerations, nausea and vomiting, earaches, eye infections, suture removals, urinary tract infections, hypertension, emergency contraception and headaches.

Allen Medical Group - 1 (866) 677-0517, http://www.allenmedicalgroup.com/#!

This medical group providesIn Home Baby Deliveries! Their services comprises of a wide range of medical services, including 24 hour cardiac monitoring. They provide medical house calls to homebound patients in the following areas: New York City and all five Burroughs, Buffalo, NY, California (statewide) and Suffolk / Nassau counties. They accept Medicare and most insurance.The Allen Medical Group is on call 24 hours a day.

*A couple of my friends who have used this service, rave about the professionalism and response time of this medical group.

There are many other medical providers, who are providing this much needed service including, but not limited to:

Fernow Medical Housecalls that provides services to Connecticut and Maine.

The University Hospitals Medical Housecalls Program in Cleveland, OH

Medivisits that provides medical house calls in New Jersey.

The Washington Hospital Center Housecall Program that serves the elder community in the Washington, DC area.