Things to Know About Physician Home Visit Programs

 

When I think physician home visits, the first image that comes to mind is of a doctor walking into a home with a stethoscope around his or her neck, carrying a larger-than-life bag filled with medical supplies - a picture from the first half of the century. 

However, physician home visits arcadia are modern-day comeback, in part because these visits provide an opportunity to more effectively serve homebound, high-risk patients. Results from a home-based primary care demonstration program suggest that providing these services saved Medicare. 

                                                 

Want to develop a home visit programs? Here’s what to keep in mind. 

Today’s home visits have come a long way – in fact their resurgence can be seen as just one home health initiative that health systems nationwide are developing to improve service for patients who are at risk for hospitalization or visits the ED.

As we’ve talked with these programs. Their main teaching points for anyone interested in implementing their own program have been raised. 

Evaluate ROI by looking at avoidable costs plus (limited) potential revenue

Home visit programs typically bill for services, but due to the limited number of visits performed every day—it just takes time to get to places—these programs may present a little revenue opportunity for a health system.

However, physician home visits can reduce ED visits and hospitalizations. For patients enrolled for at least 12 months in the home visit program at one organization we spoke with, there was a 43% reduction in ED visits and a 47% reduction in hospitalizations.                       

Integration with other departments is critical to achieving ROI projections.

Even with support to develop a program, coordinating various departments can be a challenge. Home health, post-acute care, and geriatrics representatives are needed to help train physicians performing home visits.

Imaging, labs, and pharmacies need to be organized to understand the target population group's specific needs. Without proper coordination, the home visit program can struggle to achieve ROI.

Hiring for a home visit program requires experienced, personable professionals.

Providers in a home visit program must be comfortable working independently because they almost exclusively perform visits alone. The ability to make patients comfortable in their own home, regardless of the patient's socioeconomic status, can significantly improve a visit's success. Typical home care providers have many years of experience and are looking to expand their skills beyond traditional clinical settings.

Make your patients are healthy and by your physician home visits Los Angeles services.