The house call in current medical practice

There is currently a resurgence of interest in house calls in American primary care. Studies have shown that at least 53 percent of family physicians still do house calls, although younger physicians may be less likely to do house calls than their older colleagues. To gain a deeper insight into the house call, one must appreciate the types of house calls: (1) the emergency house call, (2) the acute illness house call, (3) the chronic illness house call, (4) the dying patient house call, (5) the house call to pronounce death, (6) the grief house call, (7) home management vs hospitalization house call, and (8) the home visit house call. The chronic illness house call is by far the most common type, but all can become important ingredients in comprehensive family practice. The training environment should emphasize the home visit type of house call, since one must learn to appreciate this type of encounter.