I read an excellent NYT blog contribution today describing the efforts of Dr Jack Resnick to provide home-based comprehensive care to his aging and often frail patients on Roosevelt Island. He effectively and succinctly described the potential benefits to be reaped from supporting physicians who make house calls and home health aides who provide essential care to so many Americans. Equally compelling was the description of the complications that can arise when vulnerable patients are hospitalized for treatments that could be delivered at home. 

Can we not agree that part of delivering high-quality, modern American health care involves recognizing the benefits of personalized and compassionate home-based care? Especially when there are measurable advantages in terms of cost and complications.

As a hospital-based physician, I call on the president-elect and his health care and economics teams to remember Dr Resnick and those like him. Remember that the tiny number of dedicated physicians making house calls, and the unsung heroes who work as home health aides, are giving of themselves to provide compassionate, efficient, personalized care. They deserve better incentives (such as enhanced reimbursement for their services, educational loan forgiveness programs, and competitive small business startup assistance), as well as subsidized access to electronic medical records and broadband, and to be recognized for their efforts. 

Thanks.