House Calls
Within 15-25 Miles of Riverside Office
Whole Pediatrics Group | Riverside, CaliforniaFor most of medical history, house calls were standard care. Doctors carried black bags and came to you. It was personal. It was relationship-based. It was how medicine worked.
But over the past 50 years, house calls nearly disappeared. Today, they're almost extinct in American pediatrics—a relic of a bygone era.
At Whole Pediatrics Group, I'm bringing them back.
What Happened to House Calls?
In the 1960s and 70s, medicine changed dramatically. Insurance companies centralized care in clinics and hospitals. They wouldn't reimburse for travel time or the extra time house calls required. Doctors had to see more patients per day to survive financially.
House calls became economically impossible in the traditional insurance-based model. By the 1990s, fewer than 1% of all medical encounters happened at home.
The personal touch was lost. The convenience for families disappeared. And pediatricians became office-bound.
House Calls Today
And most of those who do only offer them to established patients in very limited circumstances. This service has become exceptionally rare.
Why Direct Primary Care Makes House Calls Possible
Because I don't participate in insurance, I'm not bound by the restrictions that make house calls financially impossible for traditional practices.
Here's what DPC allows me to do:
- Spend time with families instead of fighting insurance companies
- See fewer patients per day, which creates flexibility
- Charge for my time and expertise, not just procedures
- Make clinical decisions based on what's best for your child, not what insurance will pay for
- Build relationships with families—I know you, you know me, and trust is established
This is the model that makes house calls sustainable again. Not for everyone, not on-demand, but for families I know, in situations where it makes clinical sense.
When House Calls Make Sense
Newborn Follow-Up
Home visits during the first month allow me to check on feeding, weight gain, jaundice, and answer your questions in the comfort of your home.
Sick Toddlers Overnight
When your toddler spikes a fever at 2am, I can often evaluate at home and help you avoid an unnecessary ER visit.
Multiple Sick Siblings
When the whole family is sick, coming to you prevents spreading illness and makes care more efficient.
Post-Procedure Checks
Following circumcision or minor procedures, I can check healing at home for your convenience.
Contagious Illnesses
Kids with strep, flu, or other contagious conditions can be evaluated at home instead of exposing others in the waiting room.
Convenience
Sometimes it's just easier—newborn siblings at home, work schedules, or simply the comfort of familiar surroundings.
Clear Boundaries: What House Calls Are and Aren't
✓ House Calls ARE:
- Scheduled based on availability
- For established members I know
- Discretionary (I decide if appropriate)
- For conditions I can evaluate at home
- A privilege, not an entitlement
- Require safe home environment
✗ House Calls Are NOT:
- Emergency services (call 911)
- On-demand or same-hour requests
- Guaranteed or automatic
- Available outside 25-mile radius
- Substitute for hospital-level care
- Available to non-members
How House Calls Work
Geographic Area
House calls are available within 15-25 miles of my office in Riverside. Requests outside this radius require additional travel fees and approval.
Scheduling
House calls are scheduled based on clinical priority and my availability. I'll provide an arrival window rather than an exact time. Same-day visits are possible but not guaranteed.
Safety Requirements
All pets must be secured in a separate room before I arrive. The home must be safe and appropriate for medical care. I reserve the right to cancel if safety concerns arise.
What I Can Do at Home
I can evaluate illness, check ears/throat/skin, assess injuries, conduct newborn checks, and provide follow-up care. I cannot perform X-rays, extensive lab work, or replace emergency care.
Fees
House call fees vary by membership tier. Essential members pay additional fees, while Comprehensive and Extended members have house calls included (with travel fees for distances 15-25 miles). See Membership & Pricing for details.
After Hours
House calls outside regular business hours may be available in certain situations and involve additional fees disclosed before scheduling.
This Service Is Exclusively for Members
House calls require an established relationship, medical history, and mutual trust. That's why they're only available to active members of Whole Pediatrics Group.
If you value this kind of personalized, convenient care—the kind that used to be standard but is now exceptionally rare—membership gives you access to it.
Learn About Membership