Bridging the gap between hospital and community, last May Columbia Nursing’s faculty practice, ColumbiaDoctors Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Group, launched their new house calls service, which allows the Nurse Practitioner Group to offer primary care services directly in the homes of patients who need it the most. It is for those who have difficulty leaving home and who need comprehensive, in-home primary care—including chronic disease management and follow-up care after hospitalization. The goal is to provide clear, comprehensive, and actionable treatment plans within the comfort of a patient’s home.
“Our house calls service is essentially the care that is being provided in a health care provider’s office,” said Stephen Ferrara, DNP, associate dean of clinical affairs at Columbia University School of Nursing, who oversees the practice. “It could very well be adjusting medication for a patient’s high blood pressure or ordering lab services to draw blood or taking an X-ray in the home setting.”
Despite house calls services being available in parts of New York City today, Ferrara says the coverage still does not readily exist in Washington Heights. Until now. “There is a lack of primary care in the Washington Heights area, and the Nurse Practitioner Group increases access,” Ferrara said. “In such a densely populated neighborhood, there is no reason why we can’t take what we do in the office setting at our primary care office on 168th Street, and take it to patients’ homes who need it.”
Ferrara clarifies that this house calls service should not be confused with home health care, which often helps with light chores or meal preparation from a home health aide or wound care performed by a registered nurse. He explains this is primary care from a board-certified NP, and that not everybody will be eligible for the new service. While some house call providers offer “concierge-type” care for bedside service, the Nurse Practitioner Group’s house calls will focus on those who are unable to leave their homes due to health issues.
ColumbiaDoctors Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Group offers primary care services at three locations in Manhattan including Midtown Manhattan, Morningside, and Washington Heights. For now the home care service is only available for homebound qualified patients living in the Inwood and Washington Heights area. If you think you know someone who is qualified and who would benefit from the Nurse Practitioner Group’s house calls service, please call 888-264-8606 or visit www.ColumbiaNPs.org for more information.
A version of this article originally appeared on the Columbia University School of Nursing website.
