Urgent care (Doc in a box) home visits

[underpants]

I just found out about this this week.

I am NOT including any service’s name to make sure no one thinks this is spamming.

Turns out one of the big hospital operations here in Richmond offers home visits. Roanoke also has them by the healthcare hospital giant out there. I looked where my folks live down (actually north) in the valley but don’t see anything available.

You may do a search for - urgent care home visit - and the zip code of anyone who could use this service.

Cost
$25-50 here in Richmond. The website has average cost depending on your coverage including Medicare coverages. One Medicare option had an average of $5.44.
No coverage? A flat amount not to exceed $275. Yes that’s a lot but I had a payment plan with this hospital for a two night stay a few years ago. Also, going to an ER without coverage can be over a $1,000 I’m told.

Something you might want to look into if you or someone you know could use it.

[secondwind]

1. Thanks for posting this!

[underpants]

6. It was news to me

So I figured it would be new to other people.

[htuttle]

2. Additional option: Many HMOs offer 'video visits' now

You connect over a video chat, and can talk to a doctor or NP fairly quickly. Costs $49.

If you are trying to make the 'should I go in?' decision, it's much easier and less risky than a visit to ER/doctor's office to find out the same information. They'll write prescriptions, if needed, as well.

I've found that a one-on-one conversation with a health professional is as helpful to me as checking my vitals probably is to them. I've been having some non-viral digestive issues this week, and was able to get it solved without a visit to a busy waiting room full of other sick people.

And I took up a lot less of their time as well.

[underpants]

4. Yes we have that.

My coverage. It’s on my phone.

[getagrip_already]

3. And here I though house calls died with my father.....

He was a pediatrician with his office in the house. He would charge $5 for an office visit and $10 for a house call. He never made a lot of money, but I got every vaccination known to science.

This may be the best option once the virus gets rolling. Hospital waiting rooms will be direct vectors as sick people stack up trying to get admitted.

If you are there for any other reason, you will run a serious risk of getting the virus.

Thanks for posting.

[underpants]

5. Yep. My wife just mentioned that.

I almost walked into the “flu area” my last visit to the ER.

[Maru Kitteh]

7. There aren't enough providers. I expect the home services will be suspended or virtual only

if/when the system starts to become taxed, which unfortunately is quite likely to happen very soon.

Lovely story about your Dad though. It must have been so rewarding for him. I have done home nursing, and it is a special privilege to be able to care for people where they are.

[unitedwethrive]

8. I am a pediatrician, married to a pediatrician, and I can tell you that home visits will not happen

routinely at all in the coming months. It is nearly impossible to control disease spread in a home setting, and it would be medically irresponsible for a physician to provide that type of service in an epidemic. Much more likely, as one response suggested, will be the escalation of video M.D. consults, which - though not perfect - can be good screening tools to identify which patients need further in-person evaluation. They have the added benefit of keeping patients at home and out of potentially dangerous waiting rooms and ERs, unless absolutely necessary.

[underpants]

9. Good points.

We had a visit where I work - adult dorm

If I find out it’s discontinued I’ll be the first to report it.