Visiting patients where they live is not only good medicine and good marketing. It’s also good for the soul.
Fam Pract Manag. 2000 Jun;7(6):49-54.
More and more, we are rediscovering what our predecessors practiced without a second thought: going to see our patients where they live. The modern twist is that they live not just in the family home but in the nursing home, assisted living center and hospice house. As the population ages, family physicians will increasingly have to make the choice between seeing patients where they live or transferring their patients’ care to other doctors who will.
For me, the choice has been an easy one because I’ve seen that house calls lead to better patient care, a stronger practice and a more rewarding career in medicine. In addition, I’ve found a way to incorporate house calls into my work day without losing my shirt. Here’s how and why you should too.
