What is a house call physician? What to expect

For most of the twentieth century, doctors made house calls as a matter of routine. By the 1980s the practice had nearly vanished, displaced by clinic efficiency models. Today it is making a measurable comeback, driven by an aging population, Medicare coverage changes, and growing evidence that in-home care reduces hospitalizations and improves outcomes for frail older adults. This post explains exactly what a house call physician does, how a visit works from start to finish, and whether it might be the right fit for your parent or family member in Central Florida.

The difference between a house call and home health

These two terms are often confused, but they describe different things. Home health (sometimes called skilled home health) involves nursing, physical therapy, or aide services ordered after a hospitalization or surgery. It is task-focused and usually time-limited.

A house call physician, by contrast, provides ongoing primary care in the home. The doctor or advanced practice provider functions exactly as an office-based primary care physician would: diagnosing new conditions, managing chronic diseases, ordering labs and imaging, prescribing medications, and coordinating with specialists. The difference is geography. The exam room is your living room.

Who house call physicians typically treat

The model was designed specifically for patients who face real barriers to traditional office visits. Common candidates include:

• Adults with moderate to severe mobility limitations, including those who use wheelchairs or are bed-bound
• Patients with advanced dementia or cognitive decline for whom travel is disorienting and distressing
• Individuals recovering from strokes, hip fractures, or major surgery who are not yet ready for outpatient visits
• Patients with multiple chronic conditions requiring close monitoring
• Older adults who no longer drive and have no reliable transportation
• Patients whose home environment needs to be assessed as part of their care (fall hazards, medication storage, nutrition)

Medicare defines this patient group using the term homebound. The formal standard means that leaving home requires considerable and taxing effort, whether due to illness, injury, or functional limitation. You do not need to be completely confined to qualify. See HPG's home visiting primary care page for a plain-language eligibility overview.

What happens during a typical visit

A house call visit follows the same clinical structure as an office encounter, adapted to the home setting. Here is what you can expect when an HPG physician or advanced practice provider arrives:

Before arrival

The practice schedules a time window, typically one to two hours, and may call ahead to confirm. No special preparation is required beyond having a list of current medications and supplements accessible. If the patient uses medical equipment (CPAP, home oxygen, infusion pump), ensure it is powered on and accessible.

The clinical examination

The provider carries a portable medical bag that includes a stethoscope, blood pressure cuff, pulse oximeter, glucometer, EKG device, and the ability to draw labs. A full physical examination is performed. The provider also observes the home environment: fall hazards, kitchen and bathroom safety, evidence of adequate nutrition, and social supports available.

Care coordination

Following the clinical assessment, the provider documents the visit in the electronic medical record, orders any needed labs or imaging, sends prescriptions to the patient's preferred pharmacy, and coordinates referrals to specialists as needed. HPG's Chronic Care Management program extends this coordination between visits through a dedicated care team.

After the visit

A clinical summary is shared with the family caregiver (with patient consent). Any follow-up appointments, lab draws, or equipment orders are scheduled before the provider leaves. For patients enrolled in Remote Patient Monitoring, vital sign trends are reviewed between visits and the clinical team can respond proactively to changes.

What house call physicians cannot do at home

A home visit covers the full scope of primary care, but some services still require clinical facilities. Imaging such as CT, MRI, or X-ray requires transport to a radiology center (though portable X-ray vendors can sometimes come to the home). Procedures requiring sterile operating environments, infusions requiring monitoring, or emergencies requiring immediate intervention all require a hospital or clinic. Your HPG provider will facilitate referrals and, when needed, coordinate directly with hospitals as part of their hospital-to-home transitional care work.

The evidence for home-based primary care

The clinical literature on house call medicine has grown significantly since the 2000s. A landmark study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society found that patients receiving home-based primary care had significantly lower rates of emergency department use and hospitalization compared to similar patients in standard outpatient care.³ The Independence at Home Demonstration, a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) program, showed consistent savings averaging over $3,000 per beneficiary per year alongside quality improvements.⁴

Beyond cost, the value for families is practical: fewer frantic ER trips, a physician who knows your parent's home and social situation, and continuity of care that office-based models struggle to maintain for complex geriatric patients.

How to request a house call from HPG

Getting started with in-home primary care through HPG involves three steps. First, confirm that the patient meets the homebound criteria (our intake team can help assess this over the phone). Second, have the patient's current insurance cards and medication list ready. Third, complete the new patient registration online. HPG accepts Medicare, most Medicare Advantage plans, and several Medicaid plans; see the full list on the insurance page.

From first contact to first visit, most new patients are seen within five to seven business days depending on schedule and geographic coverage. HPG currently covers Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Volusia, and surrounding counties.