House Calls?!

[PrettySquareGal]

Can someone please tell me when Doctors stopped making housecalls in this country, and why? I've had a dreadful time with some health issues and could have used some house calls from a Dr. Baker type that went upstairs and tended to me while I was in bed, and then tip toed downstairs and told my husband that I'll be alright, and what to do. OK, so my bedroom is downstairs, but in the pictures the patient was always upstairs, it seemed. Even in the 50's sitcoms doctors are making house visits. And they were always witty and had on a nice suit. Comparing it to health "care" today it seems that our system is very sick. In fact I read an article about some health plans considering sending some people to third world countries for treatment to save money.

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/couriernews/business/124872,3_3_EL05_HEALTH_S1.article

Affordable health care is a hot issue, but no one talks about the house calls. Bring back the house calls!

 

[Rosie]

My mom remembers her doctor coming to her home as a kid during the 50s, she says the doctor came to visit my brother during the 70s and my doctor came to visit during the 80s. I think (and this is not a fact at all), doctors just felt they could make more money having patients come to them and it's seemingly true. In an office they can easily see 30+ patients a day. By going home to home, I would assume they see less people and make less money.

There is a community of doctors here in Brooklyn who still make house calls. I saw a television ad for them not long ago.

 

[LizzieMaine]

Hey PSG -- sorry to hear you haven't been feeling well, and hope things are better...

Our family doctor actually made house calls into the '70s. He was an old-time smalltown GP, and was still practicing into his early nineties. The last of his breed in a lot of ways, I guess. Nowadays, I have to drive fifty miles to get to my doctor, and the thought that he'd actually ever come to my house is ridiculous. Very sad.

 

[Paisley]

I certainly think it's easier to get better if you're home and you're less likely to catch something if you're not around other sick patients.

A doctor might save a lot of money not having an office. Just imagine: no rent, no furniture, no receptionist. Patients' records could be on a laptop. Credit card payments could be taken with a wireless internet connection. Patients might be more likely to see the doctor if they didn't have to come to an office and wait.

 

[Riposte3]

A lot of it, I'm sure, comes from insurance companies, for whatever reasons. The risk of on the job injury increases a lot if the doctor travels as part of his job, and the company that insures the business wants nothing to do with that. Insurers have some pretty nonsensical rules.

For example:
Did you know that if you collapse the emergency room parking lot, the staff is supposed to wait for EMS to come and bring you inside? It's because the hospital's insurance (workers comp and malpractice) will only cover employees inside the building and, in some cases, the "loading" area just outside the doors. Thus, the administration makes the rule to reduce the hospital's liability if someone gets hurt. (Most ER staffs, by the way, will just say "that's ridiculous" and bring you inside anyway.)

-Jake

 

[Harp]

American Lit

Medical malpractice suits have demonstrably altered the practice
of medicine in this country; even to the extent of driving physicians
toward early retirement, and forcing medical specialists to relocate
in states that afford some measure of jury award limit/limited liability.
Unfortunately, this ripple effectively curtails past professional courtesy
in favor of less time consuming, but more profitable office practice work
that affords malpractice insurance.

 

[Jack Scorpion]

All those wolfcryers tired all em doctor's feet.

 

[Gray Ghost]

We have a certain lawyer / politician in NC that will remain nameless, mainly to keep this thread open, that lined his pockets with a lot of frivoulus lawsuits against doctors. He was so good that a lot of good doctors have gone out of business because they can not afford insurance to keep practicing. It is a shame and he should be ashamed.:rage:

Gray Ghost

 

[John in Covina]

All those wolfcryers tired all em doctor's feet.

?????!

 

[John in Covina]

I seem to recall in the early 60's the doctor made a house call, but don't know for who in the family or what the problem was.

 

[Etienne]

In my community I recently saw a poster advertising a group of doctors and nurses who have started a "mobile medical clinic". They come to you for basic things and can refer you to specialists if needed. It sounds great for the average flu, bad cut, virus, bacterial infection, etc. I remember having my doctor make house calls to our home when I was a child--but that was ages ago!

 

[PrettySquareGal]

Hey PSG -- sorry to hear you haven't been feeling well, and hope things are better...

Thank you.

 

[PrettySquareGal]

Frivolous lawsuits and hypochondriacs aside, I would love to see efforts by private practice docs and clinics to offer this again.

It's also sad that medicine has become big business. Sure, snake oil, meds, docs, they have always made a profit, but the bottom line seemed to include what's best for the patient, too (except for snake oil).

 

[Solid Citizen]

I'm Feeling OLDdddddddddd!!!

BACK in the 1950's when I was kid Doctor's made regular house calls, the black leather bag, the whole bit. Feelin sorry for you FL youngin's!!! [huh]

SC

 

[PrettySquareGal]

BACK in the 1950's when I was kid Doctor's made regular house calls, the black leather bag, the whole bit. Feelin sorry for you FL youngin's!!! [huh]

SC

THAT'S THE FELLOW I WANT!