Although many people assume doctors stopped making house calls because of modern technology, the real reasons are deeper — and tied to how the healthcare system evolved.
First, insurance companies changed how doctors get paid. Years ago, physicians billed patients directly. But once insurance companies became middlemen, they started setting strict billing rules.
As a result, house calls became financially impossible for most doctors. Insurance reimbursements often didn’t cover travel time, making it hard for physicians to justify in-home visits.
Soon after insurance changed the game, large healthcare systems and group practices began to dominate the industry. Rather than running small private practices, many doctors joined larger organizations for financial security.
However, these group settings required doctors to see more patients in less time. Because of this pressure, house calls fell off the schedule; replaced by quick, in-office visits that fit the system’s demands.
Soon after insurance changed the game, large healthcare systems and group practices began to dominate the industry. Rather than running small private practices, many doctors joined larger organizations for financial security.
However, these group settings required doctors to see more patients in less time. Because of this pressure, house calls fell off the schedule; replaced by quick, in-office visits that fit the system’s demands.
At the same time, technology advanced. Imaging machines, lab equipment, and treatment tools became larger and more expensive.
Naturally, this made it harder for doctors to carry everything they needed for a full diagnosis during a house call. So, care shifted to clinics and hospitals where the technology stayed.
Another big factor? Time.
With insurance reimbursements shrinking and patient loads increasing, most doctors had to shorten appointments to survive financially. Driving between homes didn’t fit into their packed schedules.
Because of this, even doctors who loved making house calls couldn’t afford the lost hours, and patients started adjusting to office visits instead.
Here’s the good news: While most traditional doctors stopped making house calls, concierge physicians are bringing them back; on your terms.
With direct-pay concierge services, doctors bypass insurance rules. This allows them to spend real time with patients, make house calls again, and offer personalized care without rushing.
At Desert Mobile Medical, we believe house calls never stopped making sense — the system just stopped supporting them. That’s why we built a practice that puts patients back at the center.
Doctors didn’t stop caring. The system made it nearly impossible for them to serve patients the way they used to. However, with concierge medicine, house calls aren’t a thing of the past anymore — they’re the future of personalized care.
📞 Want a doctor who still comes to you? Call Desert Mobile Medical at (480) 331-2699
🌐 www.desertmobilemedical.com
