Who visits
Doctor house calls through Gateway are visits by clinicians who see patients at home. Depending on the patient’s needs, a visit may be made by a physician, a podiatrist (DPM) or a nurse practitioner. Gateway arranges the visit and the paperwork around it, and the visiting clinician makes every clinical decision.
A physician is a natural fit for broad primary care questions. A podiatrist is the right fit for the feet of a person with diabetes. A nurse practitioner may see a patient for follow-up care and wound checks.
What a house call covers
What happens at a visit depends on the clinician and the patient. The usual areas are:
- Primary care. Follow-up for long-term conditions, a review of how the person is feeling and functioning, and questions about the care plan. See in-home primary care in St. Louis for more detail.
- Wound care. Looking at a wound, measuring it and setting a plan for dressings and follow-up. Our page on mobile wound care in St. Louis explains the process.
- Foot care for people with diabetes. Diabetic foot checks and the assessment and care of foot wounds, described on the page for podiatrist house calls.
Some things cannot be done in a living room, such as certain imaging or procedures. If that comes up, the clinician explains why, and Gateway helps arrange the outside appointment and the ride.
Who this is for
A house call may make sense when a trip to an office is risky, painful or exhausting. People we hear from include:
- Adults who use a wheelchair, walker or lift
- Older adults who go out rarely because of illness or frailty
- People with dementia, for whom a waiting room can be upsetting
- Patients who just came home from a hospital or rehabilitation stay
- Residents of assisted living, memory care and similar communities
- Anyone with a wound that needs regular checks and no easy way to get to them
Being completely bedbound is not required to ask. Some insurance plans do apply rules about homebound status, so ask your plan how it uses the term.
How to arrange a visit
- Call 314-325-0126 or use the request care form to leave your name and phone number. Please keep medical details for the phone call.
- Tell us where the patient lives. A ZIP code and the care setting (private home, assisted living, memory care or another community) are the starting point.
- We confirm what is available. Visit availability is confirmed by location and care setting, and we do not promise timing.
- We gather the basics. That usually means a medication list, recent records and the names of the patient’s current clinicians.
- We tell you what to have ready. A visit may be made by a physician, a podiatrist or a nurse practitioner, depending on the patient's needs.
Working with your current doctors
A house call does not have to replace the doctor you already know. Many people keep their regular physician or specialists and add a visiting clinician for a particular need, such as a wound or a foot problem. Others no longer have anyone who can see them at home.
With your permission, Gateway keeps your other clinicians informed. Records, orders and supplies are coordinated around the visit, and updates go to the people who need them. If you want to change your main primary care clinician, that is your decision, and the primary care overview shows what is available.
Cost and coverage questions
You can ask about Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medicaid and commercial plans. Participation and benefits depend on the treating clinician, your plan and the care needed, and Gateway cannot say in advance what a plan will pay. Ask before the first visit whether the practice participates with your plan.
When to call 911
House calls are planned care. Gateway is not an emergency service. For chest pain, trouble breathing, sudden confusion, a serious fall or bleeding that will not stop, call 911. For a worry that is not an emergency, call the treating clinician’s office. You can read more in our overview of house calls in St. Louis.
Common questions
Will a doctor come to my home?
A physician, podiatrist or nurse practitioner may visit, depending on your needs. Someone with a general medical question may be seen by a physician, a person with a diabetic foot concern by a podiatrist, and a follow-up visit by a nurse practitioner.
Can I keep my regular doctor?
Yes. A visiting clinician can work alongside the physicians and specialists you already see. With your permission, Gateway shares what the visiting clinician finds, so your regular doctor stays informed and nothing is repeated without a reason. You decide who your main clinician is.
Do I need a referral for a doctor house call?
Patients, family members and caregivers can call Gateway directly, with or without a referral. Hospitals, facilities and practices can also refer a patient. Some plans have their own requirements, so ask the plan, and we will help you work out what to gather.
Are doctor house calls only for people who never leave home?
No. Many patients leave home for church, family events or an occasional appointment but find regular office visits very hard. Some plans do use a homebound rule, so check how yours applies. Call 314-325-0126 and describe the situation.
Do you make visits in assisted living or memory care?
You can ask. Visits in senior living communities are arranged with the community as well as the resident, and availability is confirmed by address and care setting. Gateway serves Greater St. Louis and the Metro East, and we confirm each location individually.