June 3, 2024

Modern-day house calls can allow for a deeper, more compassionate level of care and also break down healthcare barriers. This was especially true during our fourth house call of the day with Fazli and Ilma and their daughter, Ateef.* Ateef had to take off work to attend the visit as she acts as her parents’ primary caretaker.

Fazli is mobile, Ilma is bedbound, and Ateef runs most of the family’s errands. Having the visit in-home allowed Ateef to drop off food and medication for her parents and avoid the back-and-forth of medical visits for both parents. Adding stress to the situation, Ilma’s home hospital bed is old and losing functionality, and her wheelchair is broken, making it virtually impossible for her to leave home.

The visit started off with Dr. Chiang’s Medical Assistant, Nicole, organizing the patients’ medications. The average patient takes 17 medications, and with two parents, Ateef is helping to manage over 30 medications. This is in addition to her working full-time, caring for her own children, and making sure her parents are cared for.

*Names have been changed for privacy.

Dr. Dillon Karst

Dr. Paul Chiang

Many providers do not receive education about, or exposure to, house calls during their medical training, despite the ever-growing demand for home-based primary care. In fact, an increase of over 12,000 new, full-time providers is needed to fill the gap in the field today. 

Dr. Dillon Karst, a second-year resident in the Northwestern McGaw Family Medicine Residency Program at Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital, first chose to complete a home care rotation in November 2023 with Dr. Paul Chiang. He found this first rotation so impactful that he decided to complete another rotation with Dr. Chiang in spring 2024

When asked about what he sees as the power of house calls, Dr. Karst said, “There’s a vulnerability for both the provider and patient, that humility of them allowing you into their space as a fellow human or neighbor and seeing all the personal things about their lives. You don’t get that in an office appointment.”

HCCI’s work makes it possible for providers to see the importance and effectiveness of home-based primary care in the healthcare landscape and equips them with the necessary tools to do so. Read the full article below to learn more about why Dr. Karst found this type of care so impactful in bridging the healthcare equity gap.

According to the U.S. Census, 10,000 baby boomers turn 65 every day in the U.S., and the number of individuals 85+ is expected to quadruple by 2050. Without access to house calls, many are forced to rely on emergency room visits or isolating and expensive hospital and nursing home stays. The need for home-based primary care is more relevant than ever.

You can help make a difference by supporting HCCI’s efforts with a meaningful donation. To increase your impact, a generous donor has pledged to double every charitable gift made to HCCI through September 2024. Together we can close the gap for the over 5.9 million homebound and medically complex patients in the U.S. who cannot access the care they need from the comfort of their homes.

Support HCCI’s mission:

• Donate online with a one-time donation or join HCCInsiders with an easy monthly donation to show your ongoing support.

• Mail a check to Home Centered Care Institute, 1900 E. Golf Road, Suite 950 Schaumburg, IL 60173.

• Contact our development team to discuss other sustainable giving options, including corporate sponsorships