In the days gone by, if someone was suffering from a medical ailment, a telegram was sent to summon the family physician to the front door. Armed with a smile, and his medical bag, he would treat the patient for everything from a case of influenza to a broken bone.
During that time, it was normal for a doctor to make house calls; however, this practice has almost ceased to exist. But what happened? Why were home doctors popular at that time? Why did their popularity decrease?
Today we will be looking at the history of doctors who made house-calls. Why they were popular, what happened when you call one and why they are disappearing in today’s world?
The Concept of Home Doctors
From the earliest days of professional medicine, it was common for doctors to make house calls. It was a normal thing to call the doctor who would then travel over to your home to treat you in the comfort of your home.
But why were they popular back then?
Once upon a time, it was difficult for patients to travel to see the doctor as most people would simply walk owing to no means of transportation. Owning a horse and carriage was expensive and not everybody was able to get their hands on one.
Moreover, if the patient was too ill to walk, it was impossible to travel to see the doctor. Would you take a ride to the doctor’s when you are suffering from extreme fever or when you can barely drag yourself out of the bed?
This was way back in the day when there was no ambulance, 911 or 999. There was no other solution to meet the doctor than having the doctor come to your home.
Thus, in case of an emergency, a doctor was called who need to come in a hurry. Moreover, as he was supposed to treat all sorts of things, a majority of home doctors were general practitioners and had probably studied everything from minor operations to surgeries, know how to treat allergies, take your temperature, or deliver babies.
How Did The Doctor Travel?
As doctors were supposed to do a lot of traveling while making the house calls, they need to own reliable and safe transportation. It was not possible for them to travel on a horse while carrying fragile medical equipment.
Doctors often invested in a Victorian-era buggy which was specifically designed for use by the physicians. It made it easier for the doctor to store all his equipment comfortably while driving it at a high speed. These buggies were made to be safe yet fast.
While some doctors believed making house calls were more cost-effective, yet the practice died a slow death.
However, Utah Doctors At Home aims at bringing back the concept of “Home Doctor”. We provide you with comprehensive medical care from the comfort of your own home. Our mobile medical team is made up of skilled physicians, nurse practitioners and an experienced team of health professionals.
Call (385) 247-0050 to schedule your no-obligation in-home medical assessment.
