HouseCalls™ is a growing trend
In Richland County, residents are now enjoying something reminiscent of older classic television shows, harkening back to simpler times. Remember the old Marcus Welby, MD TV show? The doctor, with a kind bedside manner, made house calls, and was on a first-name basis with many of his patients. After his examination, he would console the family and announce, “Don’t worry, she’ll be just fine.”
But what’s old is new again as actual house calls are making a comeback, providing better access and improved outcomes here in Richland County. Many older adults are now benefiting from programs being offered through health insurers who bring nurse practitioners and their preventive care skills into the homes of older adults. The nurse practitioners spend up to an hour with patients, checking their health, and helping them make connections to other social services so they can live a better, more independent life.
Richland County is faring better than the average county in South Carolina for population health and wellbeing, and slightly better than the average county in the nation, according to County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, a national study by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. In Richland County, 17 percent of adults reported that they consider themselves in fair or poor health, which is slightly higher than the state average of 16 percent.
One nurse practitioner who is a true believer of house calls has seen firsthand how the program is improving lives.
Glenn, a board-certified adult nurse practitioner, has been serving patients through HouseCalls™ for the past six years. With over two decades of clinical experience, Glenn brings a steady, knowledgeable presence into the homes he visits.
One visit stands out. Glenn met a woman who was visibly upset when he told her he heard a heart murmur, which no one had ever mentioned before. He calmly explained what he observed, documented it, and encouraged her to follow up with her physician. When he returned for a follow-up visit, she greeted him warmly and thanked him. Her doctor had confirmed the diagnosis, and she had since seen a cardiologist. “She just wanted to tell me it was me who caught it,” Glenn says. “That meant a lot.”
Today, more than half of Glenn’s visits are with returning patients, many of whom specifically request him. “They ask for me year after year,” he says. “It’s the connection. It’s the time we spend together. They know I’ll listen.”
For Glenn, that familiarity is a foundation for better care.
Harkening back to house calls is something old that’s new again and improving the lives of older adults.
If you are interested in learning more about the house call program, please contact your health plan for more information.
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