Home visits by physicians improve care, reduce utilization, cut costs under Medicare risk.
Bringing back the doctor house call: Only 1% to 3% of your seniors are probably homebound frail elderly, but they're responsible for exorbitantly high costs. Unable to make office visits, they're at high risk for ER visits and hospitalization. The answer to improving their care and reigning in their costs are regular doctor house calls, say two physicians who practice in-home primary care. Here's why, plus details on their innovative program.
D000368:Aged; D019090:Case Management; D003284:Contract Services; D016330:Frail Elderly; D005845:Georgia; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006279:Health Maintenance Organizations / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018577:Homebound Persons; D006792:House Calls / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D006278:Medicare / Q000458:organization & administration*; D020414:Risk Sharing, Financial; D014481:United States; D014768:Virginia