Homedicare - Return of the House Call Specialists
Homedicare brings back the concept of home based healthcare. Now medical care is available to Indians at their door step.
(PRWEB) April 30, 2001
House Call Specialists
Some things in life are timeless. Like the centuries old Hippocratic Oath. It is the basis and symbol of the high ethical standards of Western Medicine. Its basic tenets are still very much in practice. These tenets are: to do good to patients and save lives, never to take them; to avoid intentional ill-doing and improper relationships with patients including sexual ones; and to protect patient confidentiality. Even today, Hippocrates is relevant as the “Father of Medicine”. He is a figure that physicians can respect and be proud to have kinship with.
Hippocrates saw patients in their homes. The Hippocratic Oath calls for professionalism in “whatever houses I enter”. This age-old practice--the doctor house call--is fast being revived, with more and more doctors rediscovering what their predecessors practised without a second thought. The American Medical Association states that six million Americans receive medical care at home and are greatly benefited by it. The resurgence of doctor house calls may be attributed to several factors from waiting in long queues to see a doctor, doctor and patient dissatisfaction with managed care insurance companies to the rapidly growing ageing population in all the world’s developing economies. Many companies have entered the segment, having realised that house calls are good medicine.
Bringing home, health
Among the first to offer home-centric healthcare services to the 50 plus population in India, is Homedicare, headquartered in Singapore with operations in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. Started in January 2001, Homedicare provides house call services to the India-based parents and relatives of NRIs.
For NRIs who are assuaged with guilt about neglecting their aged parents in India, the service comes as a blessing. The health of their parents' is a constant source of anxiety for them as they live miles away and cannot provide the care and support their parents' need when they fall ill. It is also difficult for them to rush back home to their parents as and when a crisis occurs. The elderly parents, on the other hand, are left to cope by themselves most of the time and wish for support and reassurance. By taking the practice to the patientÂ’s drawing room, Homedicare tries to provide peace of mind to both NRIs and their dependants.
Novel approach
A novel approach to healthcare delivery differentiates Homedicare's hi-tech house calls. In-house general physicians are accompanied by a multi-disciplinary team comprising a nurse, dietitian, physiotherapist, fitness expert and health educator. The team arrives equipped with portable diagnostic equipment and works together to help the elderly in reaching their optimal level of health and independence. In reaching out to this segment, the health professionals makes use of other tools too, like compassion, information and reassurance to give the elderly a comfort feeling. Homedicare has tied up with affiliate and outsourced care providers including specialists, hospitals, laboratories etc., who offer their services when needed.
End-to-end services
Homedicare's core services include Prime Care, Treat Care and Recoup Care. The emphasis is on preventive care or timely intervention before occurrence of disease and before problems get complicated. The Prime Care plan includes pre-defined schedules of house visits done by team members at periodic intervals and a comprehensive health screening done in the comfort of ones home. Treat Care also covers house calls for diagnosis and treatment of common ailments and illnesses. Recoup Care offers support and supervision for recovery at home following a minor or major medical/surgical treatment. The ultimate purpose is to promote and maintain health rather than just treat illness.
The services have first been started in Chennai, which is famous as the Mecca of Medicine. Future plans are to roll out services in other cities too.
Technology augments care
Recognising the importance of technology in providing better customer services, Homedicare offers `eHelium' or Electronic Health Information Utility Manager and `Consult Zone' to its customers. Both are available in its website homedicare. com. eHelium provides NRIs confidential access to their parents' electronic medical records, and offers detailed information about their visit reports, lab test results, medications and other updates. NRIs are relieved on receiving timely updates and information about their parents' health status.
Consult Zone offers free consultation of a panel of reputed doctors through telephone calls and email, on registration. A Live Chat with doctors and other empanelled professionals can be scheduled over the telephone. So also, an e-Appointment can be fixed with empanelled care providers in the city locations where Homedicare has operations. This increased communication results in better doctor-patient relationship and better quality care.
Homedicare hopes to touch the lives of the elderly in a positive way and make them independent and healthy for as long as possible. Its personalised services are aimed at ensuring cent percent client satisfaction. The end result is a win-win situation on all sides. Patients are well cared for, NRIs have a cost-effective option and relieved of anxiety, and doctors are more responsive to patient needs.
For further information, Contact:
Sandeep Sridhar
Corporate Communications
Homedicare I Pvt. Ltd.
Ph:91-044-432 9851 / 52
Fax: 91-044-432 9850
