Ongoing care, in the setting that fits.
Primary care addresses long-term conditions, medication questions, new concerns and preventive care. Gateway provides it through home visits and appointments in partner clinics across Greater St. Louis and the Metro East.
Your Gateway clinician directs the medical care. Our coordination team keeps records, orders, follow-up and communication with other clinicians connected. You do not need a wound to receive primary care.
Explore primary care at home and primary care alongside wound care.
Who primary care at home is for
Home visits make sense when getting to an office is hard enough that care gets delayed or skipped. That often describes:
- Homebound adults. Leaving home takes real effort, equipment or another person’s help. See primary care for homebound adults.
- Seniors. Stairs, transfers and long drives can turn a short appointment into a full day. Our page on house calls for seniors speaks to older adults and their families.
- Residents of assisted living and memory care. The visiting clinician works alongside the community’s nursing staff. See primary care in assisted living.
- People just home from a hospital or rehab stay. The first weeks bring new medications and follow-up that is easy to miss.
You do not need to fit a formal definition to call. Family members and caregivers can make the first call and be present for the visit if the patient wants them there.
Your primary care clinician
A primary care clinician assesses your health, reviews medications and directs follow-up. If a wound, foot problem or another concern needs additional expertise, that clinician coordinates with the appropriate specialist.
Gateway keeps your existing physicians informed, with your permission, so prescriptions, referrals and test results do not fall between offices.
Primary care services at home
The services below are covered in their own pages, and the list that follows this section shows all of them. A few examples:
Primary care also connects with wound care. A wound is rarely only a skin problem, and blood sugar, circulation and swelling all affect it. See primary care and wound care together for how the two clinicians share what they see.
Primary care near you
Gateway clinicians see people in private homes and in senior living communities on both sides of the Mississippi River. Choose your area to read about care nearby: St. Louis County, St. Charles County or the Metro East in Illinois. The directory below lists the individual towns. Visit availability is confirmed by address and care setting.
Medicare questions
Many people who ask about primary care at home are on Medicare, and it is fair to ask about Medicare Advantage, Medicaid and commercial plans too. Whether a home visit is a benefit, and what you might owe, depends on the treating provider, your plan and the care you need. Our page on Medicare and primary care at home lists questions worth asking before a first visit. Gateway cannot tell you what a plan will pay.
How to start
Call 314-325-0126 or send a request for care. You do not need a referral. The form takes your name and phone number only, so please leave medical details out. We call you back, ask where you live and what help you need, confirm availability and gather records with your permission.
Primary care at home is planned care, not emergency care. For an emergency, call 911.
Common questions
Do I need a wound to receive primary care?
No. Gateway provides primary care on its own or alongside wound care. Home visits can help when mobility or illness makes travel difficult; partner-clinic appointments provide another setting for ongoing care.
Can I keep my current primary care physician?
Yes, you can ask for that. A visiting clinician can work alongside a long-time physician. With your permission, visit notes and questions go to that office. Ask both offices who will handle refills, referrals and test results so the roles are clear from the start.
Do I need a referral?
No referral is needed to contact Gateway. Patients, family members and caregivers can call directly, and hospitals, facilities and practices can refer. Some health plans have their own referral or authorization rules for home visits, so we go over that with you before a visit is scheduled.
Is primary care available in assisted living or skilled nursing?
Gateway clinicians see people in assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing facilities and rehabilitation centers as well as private homes. In a facility, the visiting clinician works with the nursing staff and any attending physician already responsible for the resident. Give us the name of the community when you call, since availability is confirmed for each location.
Can I ask about one service, such as a medication review?
Yes. Tell us what you need help with, even if it is a single concern. The treating clinician decides what a visit should include after learning about your health and may suggest attention to related issues. You choose what to go forward with.
Who should I contact when something changes with my health?
Contact your treating clinician for new symptoms or medication concerns. Gateway can help connect you with that clinician and coordinate follow-up. For sudden or severe symptoms, such as chest pain, trouble breathing or signs of a stroke, call 911.
Will my insurance pay for a home visit?
It depends on the treating provider, your plan and the care you need. Ask which practice would see you, then confirm participation and likely costs with your plan before the first visit. Gateway does not promise coverage for any plan.
