The resurgence of the house call could enable higher-quality and more accessible care for people living with chronic conditions, while also alleviating caregiver burden, according to a new survey from CareMore Health.

The survey, conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of CareMore and Aspire Health among 2,009 US adults age 23+, provides insights into the perceived benefits of in-home care for chronically ill patients and explores the hurdles preventing people from getting care where and when they need it, according to a media release from CareMore Health.

More than Half Interested in Modern House Call; One in Three Say Quality of In-Home Care Would Be Better Than In the Office or Clinic

The majority (64%) of adults express interest in the house call defined as a team of healthcare professionals traveling to a home-bound or chronically ill patient’s home or care facility to provide medical care, medication consultations, and social services for both regular check-ups and non-emergency medical situations.

Convenience (58%) and more personal attention (42%) are key benefits of in-home care, and 92% say the quality of care provided in-home would be better (34%) or equal to (58%) the quality offered in an office or clinic.

Adults also saw benefits related to personalized attention, improved ability to manage well-being, and compliance with treatment plan(s). According to the survey, the overwhelming majority of people (87%) want their healthcare provider to treat them or the person who they care for like a member of the family.

Additional findings include:

  • The majority (79%) agree that people would be able to better manage their health if they could have consultations with their healthcare providers in their own home.
  • The house call was cited as less stressful than an office visit for 44% of adults.
  • 64% agree that care provided at home would reveal much more than what is seen in the office or clinic.
  • 42% believe house calls allow for more personal attention from healthcare providers.
  • 44% of respondents say they would be more likely to follow an in-home health care provider’s advice versus that given in a provider’s office.
  • 43% say they would be more likely to take medication exactly as prescribed or indicated if the care were provided in-home.

“This survey validates the belief that patients and their caregivers desire more personalized, convenient and collaborative care,” says Prakash Patel, MD, and Executive Vice of Diversified Business Group at Anthem Inc, which includes CareMore Health and Aspire Health, in the release.

“It’s clear an evolution of our care delivery models is required, and we are meeting this need by building an integrated set of offerings to support the whole person.”

Modern-Day House Call Could Alleviate Challenges Facing Caregivers

Among respondents who stated they are serving as a caregiver for a chronically ill person, 63% say it is difficult to care for someone else while maintaining their own responsibilities. In addition, 80% of caregivers express interest in the concept of the house call and 52% believe in-home care would be better than in the office.

The study finds that caregivers care for people with an average of three chronic conditions. Further, 69% of caregivers wish it was easier for the person they provide care for to access their healthcare provider, with over half saying they would like help understanding (57%) or administering (51%) that person’s medication(s), the release continues.

“We believe that spending more time with our patients and understanding their day-to-day lives better enables us to focus on personalizing the care they need,” states Sachin H. Jain, MD, President, CareMore and Aspire Health.

“This new survey underscores that the resurgence of home-based primary, acute, and palliative care is gaining traction for a reason – this model has shown its potential to improve outcomes and reduce costs for our country’s most frail and vulnerable patients.”

[Source(s): CareMore Health, Business Wire]