A Step Backwards

Doctor poses for photo as he retires.

    Is this doctor a dying breed? Maybe not.
    He made house calls during his career. His office was located inside his home. He treated me when I was a boy.
    Docs like him provided more than medical care. They enhanced the cohesion of a community. Having the same doctor meant sharing something in common.
    Nowadays, most doctors don’t visit homes. There’s lots of reasons, including technology, specialization, and the prominence of HMO’s.
    Change might be in the works. Apps are being created to summon doctors to a home. That development is encouraging. Will the physician who shows up be someone from the community? Or just a stranger on call? Either way, it’s a step backward in the right direction.