Doctors Revive Practice Of House Calls

AP
Published: June 7, 2009

AKRON, Ohio—Some hospitals in Ohio are reviving the practice of making house calls. The idea is to provide more routine and preventive care to a select group of frail patients who struggle to get to their doctor’s office. Summa Health System in Akron has 83 patients in its house calls program. About once a month, Dr. Bill Zafirau checks in on 91-year-old Marian Graham, who is dependent on supplementary oxygen. Zafirau says the program allows him to provide higher value health care. He packs his car with a laptop computer and all the medical equipment he needs to care for his patients in the home. With his mobile office, he can order prescriptions, check oxygen levels and provide other services.

For additional information, stay with NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com—Where Accuracy Matters.
To submit a story idea or news tip, e-mail .
MORE: NBC 4 Local News | Local Crime News
NBC 4 SPORTS: Sports News, Video
NBC 4 POLITICS: Headlines, Interactives & Video