Riverside Health System Opens the ‘Doors’ on Innovative House Calls Practice

Newport News, VA (PRWEB) March 21, 2014

Effective this month, Riverside is accepting patients for its new House Calls Practice.

As part of Riverside's Lifelong Health Division, the House Calls Practice is designed to bring primary care services – via physicians and nurse practitioners – to adults, primarily the elderly, who are home limited or have mobility problems that inhibit access to office-based services.

"This practice is truly unique in that we provide comprehensive care for the most unwell patients who would otherwise not have access to healthcare. Our House Call visits are absolutely a necessity for these patients if they are to receive basic medical care," said Dr. Teresa McConaughy, Medical Director of the House Calls Practice.

The practice gives adults with complicated and chronic medical conditions access to primary care services to better manage their conditions and diagnoses. Without adequate access to primary care services, emergency rooms more often become their healthcare access point.

"The launching of this practice builds on Riverside's commitment to older adults throughout the region and dedication to help them age in a place of their choosing," said Dr. Kyle Allen, Riverside's Vice President for Clinical Integration and Medical Director for the Lifelong Health Division.

Beyond that, Allen added, "bringing medical care to older adults or those with severe physical issues that make it difficult for them to leave their home to get to the doctor's office often results in poor healthcare. Caregivers often struggle with the demands of making office visits which increases stress and can affect their health as well. Being in new settings, like a doctor's office or hospital, can also trigger problems for those who suffer from memory loss. As a result they may go without medical care."

Patients who join the Riverside House Calls Practice can receive virtually all of the same medical services they did when they visited a doctor in an office.

In addition to the routine visits that typically occur every four to six weeks, the Riverside House Calls Practice also provides medication management and oversight from a Riverside pharmacist, education and support to patients, family members, and caregivers, as well as coordination of all medical care including specialty services.

Most insurance carriers cover House Calls Practice visits.

To get more information or learn more about eligibility, call 757.234.8460 or visit http://www.riversideonline.com/services/seniors/House-Calls-Practice.cfm.

In general, a patient eligible for the House Calls Practice is home-limited or has mobility problems, suffers from memory issues, is over 60 or experiences exhaustion when they leave their house.

The Riverside House Calls Practice office hours are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Due to the nature of the practice, the clinicians are not on site, but administrative team members are available to answer questions.

Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2014/03/prweb11687166.htm