How do visiting doctor services work?

House Calls are Back! Depending on your age, you might remember the simple days of calling a doctor and having them come to your home to treat your symptoms. This was common practice in the 1930s, but there was a sharp decline over the next 30 years. In fact, by the 1950s, only 10 percent of patient visits were done in the home, and by the 1980s, it was only 1 percent.

What you might be surprised to hear is that house calls and home physicians are returning. Homebound patients in New Jersey can take advantage of Visiting Physician Services (VPS) through VNA Health Group. This home-based primary care practice has been making house calls to older adults and homebound patients for almost three decades.

Let’s learn more about how these services work so that you can determine if they are the right fit for your loved one.

What are Visiting Doctor Services? How Do They Work?

Visiting doctor services involve a doctor coming to the patient’s home to provide them with medical care, just like in the old days. With house calls, frail, older adults don’t have to go through the stress and difficulty of getting to the doctor’s office. And neither do their families.

These house calls are not for emergency situations. Instead, they provide ongoing primary care in the comfort and safety of your home. Everything from minor ailments to serious, chronic illnesses can be treated. To take advantage of these services, all you need to do is get in touch with VNA Health Group! VPS accepts Medicare, Horizon, Amerigroup, Aetna Medicare, and WellCare.

During your loved one’s visit, you can expect comprehensive care that includes:

  • Physical examination
  • Full medical history
  • Chronic care management
  • Assessment of surroundings
  • Medication management; wound care
  • In-home diagnostic testing: bloodwork, X-Rays, EKGs, etc.

Who Should Use Visiting Physician Services?

Visiting doctor services focus on providing convenient, high-quality medical care for the older adult and geriatric patients. We recommend these services to individuals who are homebound, have difficulty getting to the doctor, have multiple chronic conditions, have been recently hospitalized, or frequently visit the emergency room.

Because this care is provided in the home, the patient doesn’t have to leave their residence or expose themselves to germs and illness. House calls also alleviate the stress that comes with getting to the doctor, such as transporting a wheelchair. This eliminates the risk of falls or injuries and allows families to spend more quality time together.

What are the Benefits of House Calls?

There are a number of advantages you can expect by scheduling house calls for your loved one. Doctors from VPS are able to see the patient in their surroundings, improving their quality of care. Additional benefits include:

  • Reduced stress of getting to and from doctors’ appointments
  • Lessens the risk of falls, injuries, picking up illness, etc.
  • Accurate evaluation of the home environment
  • Complete coordination of care
  • Improved communication among family members
  • Fewer hospital and emergency room visits
  • Peace of mind and more quality time at home

If you are interested in learning more about VPS and how it can make a difference for your loved one, please contact VNA Health Group today. or Phone at 732-571-1000 www.vnahg.org/vps.

12.22.2022

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