One phrase, several services

People searching for mobile medical care in St. Louis usually mean one of four things. The differences matter, because each one fits a different situation and each works differently with insurance and with your own doctors. Gateway is not a home health agency, and this page covers options beyond the ones we arrange.

Gateway itself connects patients with partner clinicians for house calls and mobile wound care. Our page on mobile medical care describes how that works. The rest of this guide is a general map.

House calls for primary care

A clinician comes to the home or senior living community to provide primary care: reviewing health, conditions and medications, ordering tests and coordinating with specialists. Visits are planned, not emergency care.

Visiting clinicians who see patients through Gateway may be physicians, podiatrists (DPM), nurse practitioners or nurses, matched to the patient’s needs. House calls suit adults who find travel hard, such as people with limited mobility, memory loss or a recent hospital stay. See house calls in St. Louis for details.

Mobile wound care

Mobile wound care brings a wound care clinician to the patient for assessment and treatment of wounds such as leg ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers, pressure injuries and surgical wounds. It suits people who cannot easily get to a wound clinic, or who need frequent visits. The treating clinician makes every clinical decision.

Wound care often goes better alongside primary care, because blood sugar, circulation and swelling affect healing. Read about mobile wound care in St. Louis.

Mobile units

A mobile unit is a vehicle fitted with exam space that travels to neighborhoods, events or community sites. Services vary by program, and may include screenings, vaccines or basic exams. Mobile units can be useful for people who can travel a short distance but lack nearby care. The clinician usually sees patients on the vehicle, not in their homes, and the program may not provide long-term follow-up. Ask who handles the next step.

Hospital at home programs

Some health systems offer hospital at home programs. A patient who would otherwise be admitted to the hospital receives hospital-level care at home for a short period, with frequent clinician contact and monitoring. These programs are usually connected to a specific hospital, and the hospital decides who qualifies. They are for acute illness, not long-term primary care. If you have been offered one, ask what happens when the program ends and who will follow up.

Home health and home care are different

Home health is care from agencies certified to take part in Medicare, usually ordered by a physician or allowed practitioner, and it often involves nursing or therapy for a limited period. Home care means non-medical help such as bathing, meals and companionship. Neither is the same as a house call. Gateway does not provide home health services. For a side-by-side comparison, read home health vs home care vs house calls, or the overview of health care in the home.

Comparing the options

Ask yourself these questions:

  • Do I need ongoing primary care, a wound treated, or a short-term acute stay?
  • Can I travel at all, even a short distance?
  • Do I want a clinician who will follow me over time?
  • Who will talk with my family and my other doctors?
  • What does my plan require, and what might I owe?

Questions to ask any mobile service

  • Who exactly will see me, and what is their role?
  • Do you serve my address, and does your service cover my care setting?
  • What can be done at the visit and what needs another appointment?
  • How do I reach someone between visits?
  • Will you send notes to my regular doctor?

Our companion guide lists questions to ask before a house call in more detail. Gateway cannot say what a plan will pay, so confirm that with the service and your plan.

Getting started with Gateway

If a house call or mobile wound care sounds right, call 314-325-0126 or send a request for care. The form asks only for a name and phone number. For an emergency, call 911.

Common questions

What is the difference between a house call and a mobile unit?

A house call goes to where you live. A mobile unit is a vehicle that sets up in a community and sees people on board. A house call suits someone who cannot travel; a mobile unit suits someone who can make a short trip.

Is hospital at home the same as a house call?

No. Hospital at home is a short-term, hospital-run program for people who would otherwise be admitted. A house call is planned outpatient care at home. The hospital decides who qualifies for its program.

Can mobile care replace my regular doctor?

Sometimes, if the service provides ongoing primary care and you choose that. Many people keep their existing physician and add mobile care. Ask the service to share notes with your doctor and agree on who handles refills and referrals.

Is mobile medical care available in the Illinois suburbs?

Availability depends on the service and the address. Gateway coordinates care in Greater St. Louis and the Metro East in Illinois, and confirms each location individually. Ask any service whether it covers your county.

Does insurance pay for mobile medical care?

It depends on the service, the plan and the care needed. Ask Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medicaid or a commercial plan before the first visit, and ask the service what you may owe.

Related pages

General information to help you talk with your own clinician. It is not medical advice, and the treating clinician makes every clinical decision. For a medical emergency, call 911.

Updated October 2026