Everyone knows the importance of having a primary care provider for basic healthcare needs such as an annual checkup, a needed vaccination, or the management of chronic illness, but sometimes the very act of visiting a provider’s office may present challenges. The healthcare landscape has changed in recent years, and one of those shifts has been a trend toward at-home healthcare, including primary care. House calls have once again gained in popularity as a way to access care while in the comfort of your own home.

What is home-based primary care?

Rather than visiting a medical office, patients may receive medical attention in their own homes. This eliminates the need for transportation, waiting rooms, and the stress associated with traveling, especially for individuals with limited mobility or chronic conditions. Home-based primary care brings healthcare directly to the patient, ensuring easy access to medical professionals and reducing barriers to care.

When healthcare professionals visit patients at home, they can observe the patient’s living environment, assess their daily routines, and gain a better understanding of their unique needs and challenges. This holistic view enables healthcare providers to tailor their care plans to the individual, considering their lifestyle, preferences, and specific health goals.

“Every patient with a chronic condition or serious illness deserves to have the best care out there,” says Sara Pagliaro, DO, Chief Medical Officer, Samaritan.

The not-for-profit South Jersey based provider was one of the first local healthcare organizations to expand their continuity of care to include home-based primary care along with palliative medicine and hospice services.

“At Samaritan, we can provide you with home-based care for a number of medical conditions beginning as early as the moment of diagnosis. Ours is a very specialized and personalized approach.”

What are the benefits of home-based primary care?

Home-based primary care provides patients with the convenience and accessibility they deserve, eliminating the need for travel to medical facilities, reducing stress, physical strain, and the time associated with appointments.

By receiving care at home, patients experience an improved quality of life by maintaining their independence, remaining connected to their community, and continuing to engage in activities that bring them joy.

Home-based primary care providers offer personalized care in familiar surroundings, leading to improved patient experiences, better communication, and enhanced trust between patients and their healthcare team. Providers are often able to identify and address health issues earlier, preventing complications, promoting proactive disease management, and reducing hospitalizations.

Medication management is an integral part of the at-home care plan. Healthcare professionals assess medication regimens, provide education on proper medication usage, and monitor the patient’s adherence to prescribed treatments.

In traditional settings, primary care often focuses on acute illness management, leaving chronic disease management and preventative care as secondary priorities. Home-based primary care allows for a more holistic approach to patient care, addressing all aspects of an individual’s health, and enabling healthcare providers to deliver comprehensive and coordinated care.

“When we coordinate care for our patients, they have a true understanding of their options,” says Dr. Pagliaro. “Individualized, goal-oriented care is vital to navigating every healthcare journey.”

How do you know if it’s time to consider home-based primary care?

Experts point to several signs that indicate a patient may benefit from home-based primary care.

• Patients with limited mobility due to age, disability, or chronic illness may find it difficult to travel to a provider’s office or clinic. Home-based primary care brings medical services directly to their homes.
• If a patient has experienced multiple hospitalizations or emergency room visits, home-based primary care can help manage chronic conditions to prevent future hospitalizations.
• Patients with complex medical conditions, multiple chronic illnesses, or those requiring specialized care may benefit from the personalized approach home-based primary care provides.
• Patients who require regular monitoring of vital signs, medication management, or disease progression may find it more convenient and effective to have a healthcare provider visit them at home.
• Finally, home-based primary care is beneficial for patients who have caregiver support at home by allowing the healthcare provider to work closely with the caregiver to ensure coordinated care.

How can home-based primary care providers help?

Home-based primary care is patient-centered care, providing everything from routine check-ups and preventative care to the diagnosis and treatment of serious illness. Samaritan, for example, provides primary care to patients in their homes, assisted-living facilities, skilled nursing facilities, retirement homes, or retirement communities in Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester counties, providing complete history and physical evaluations, geriatric home evaluations, medication orders and adjustments, arrangement of specialist consultations, EKG, pulmonary function testing, and much more – all fully coordinated with a patient’s existing primary care provider.

Some of the most common medical conditions home-based primary care providers manage include Alzheimer’s and related dementias, Multiple Sclerosis, gait abnormalities, osteoarthritis and osteoporosis, brain injury, stroke, pain management and palliative care, cardiac disease, Parkinson’s Disease, pulmonary disease, diabetes, and renal disease.

Home-based primary care offers the benefits of personalized, convenient, and comprehensive healthcare services delivered in the comfort and familiarity of a patient’s own home.