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Mobile health care is making a comeback here in the United States, in large part, due to newer technology. While doctor house calls once were prevalent in this country, the advent of technology, such as xray machines, drew patients into hospitals and clinics for their care.
Mobile health care, in particular doctor house calls, went by the wayside. In 1998 Medicare increased payment rates for mobile health care services provided by doctors and other mobile health practitioners. In addition, in recent years, the development of smaller, compact, highly portable medical technology fueled interest in doctor house calls once again.
The traditionally large, cumbersome and stationary xray machines are now available as lightweight instruments on wheels, easily brought to patients in a variety of settings, including home, hotel room or workplace. Ultrasound machines too, have become portable. Many of these devices are now the size of a small briefcase that is easily hand carried. Recently, handheld ultrasound devices have become available, allowing emergency physicians and mobile health care providers to carry, just like stethoscope, draped around one's neck or stuffed in a pocket. Even instant point of care blood testing equipment is available. The i-Stat is a hand held device which performs rapid blood tests anywhere. Two minutes and a few drops of blood produces results with impressive accuracy right at the patients bedside.
With the return of the doctor house call comes the renewal of the doctor patient relationship. Too often the clinic or office encounter between patient and physician is brief and unfulfilled. Patients are left with unanswered questions about their conditions, and undue stress and anxiety as a result. Physicians appear to the patient to be uncaring. Doctors in their hurried state, are left dissatisfied.
House call medical practice affords the physician or other provider ample time for patient interaction. The physician is not pressured by the appointment schedule of the medical office or clinic which may be 5, 6 or even more patients to be seen each hour. There is no impatient crowd in the waiting room.
During the house call, the patient and family become the primary focus. In many instances, seeing patients in their home gives the house call physician a perspective that enhances overall medical care, so that medical illness may be more appropriately and efficiently treated. Unnecessary tests that are potentially harmful are easier to avoid when the physician spends time with the patient.
By offering house calls utilizing mobile health technology of today, mobile health care providers find themselves better able to care for, and more deeply connected with, their patients so that the traditional, meaningful, doctor-patient relationship has been restored.
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