[NPInfo] Now this is why housecalls are a good idea :)

[Carla Anderson]

I have a few people that I now do regular housecalls for in addition to growing my new office practice. Saturday night I get a call, from a patient that she thinks her mom has pneumonia but she "won't go to a doctor" because she is afraid her job will fire her if she misses a day of work, and she is too sick to want to go anywhere. I go to her house. Based on my assessment her mother definitely has a serious lower respiratory infection, with fever, rales, fatigue, and chest congestion.  I give her a list of home instructions, and call in the rx to the pharmacy which the daughter picks up the same evening. The next night Sunday at 9pm, the daughter calls, saying she herself is getting sick, and she thinks it is strep throat.  She has had many many cases of strep, and recently I referred her to ENT to have her tonsils removed, which they were two months ago. I pick up my supplies including my rapid strep kit, and go on over to the house. Often this patient has had strep
 throat but it was negative on the rapid strep, and positive when sent to the lab. And I was a bit skeptical as she just had her tonsils out.  But lo and behold this time the rapid strep turned out positive right away.  I was in and out of her house in 20 minutes, and she was taken care of, all while she was in her pjs. Now she and her mother did not have to drive, they did not wait in a waiting room, and they did not expose others to their illness. I feel that housecalls are useful for the elderly with mobility issues, anyone with transportation issues or who do not drive, and those families that have young children that would have to all go to the provider office, when only one is ill, because they cannot be left alone. But housecalls are also great just for those that "feel too sick to go to the clinic" and can just be seen in the comfort of their own homes.  Earlier today I saw everyone in my cul d sac giving out flu shots in their homes,..great way to get to know the
 neighbors.  My business is still not super busy, (it is 4 mos old)  but this is why I wanted my practice in my own town, to be part of the community, and to treat people the way I want to be treated. 
   
  It is not easy being out on your own, but I would encourage anyone who thinks they can do it, even part time to give it a try, because no one gives good old fashioned home care or even shots  like a nurse..
  Regards, Carla 


Carla R. Anderson, FNP-C
  Healing Presence Family Practice, PC  
  carla_rayne at yahoo.com
  503 819 9726