How HouseCalls became a trusted part of one couple’s life
Glen makes connections with HouseCalls
The best healthcare relationships can often be those built over time. For UnitedHealthcare members Gregory and Anne Branch, what started as a routine HouseCalls visit became something much more: a trusted partnership that has helped them navigate their health journey year after year.
When HouseCalls nurse practitioner Glen Aco first arrived at the couple's home several years ago, it laid the foundation for a relationship built on conversation, trust and genuine care.
“The HouseCalls program is invaluable,” said Gregory, who is a Medicare Advantage member. “Glen imparts knowledge to us that we wouldn’t often expect to receive from our normal health practitioner.”
As a HouseCalls provider for eight years and a nurse for nearly three decades, Glen understands that sometimes the most meaningful interventions can happen when members feel at ease to ask questions and share concerns.
“He has a very calming demeanor so he makes you feel comfortable the moment he walks in the door,” Anne said. “The way he explains things is the way I’ll understand it.”
"We look forward to it every year. Unlike the doctor's office where you're in and out, the home visit gives you that time. It's in a relaxed atmosphere, and we can ask anything."
It’s a big reason why the couple says they’ve requested Glen the past several years — and even recommended him to their friends.
“It’s very refreshing and exciting,” Glen said. “It’s like an old friend that you look forward to seeing.”
HouseCalls’ positive outcomes
HouseCalls clinicians spend up to 60 minutes with members. They assess medications, preventive care needs, social determinants of health and barriers to care. Those findings are then shared with members’ primary care providers. Visiting a member in their home also gives HouseCalls practitioners a broader view of a member's overall well-being.
HouseCalls has shown to help have a major impact on the members served by the program. Among members who received a HouseCalls visit:
- 75% of older adults had an in-office visit within 90 days of a HouseCalls visit1
- 2% decrease in major adverse cardiovascular events for those who received a HouseCalls visit2
- 5.2% fewer inpatient stays for people with four common conditions linked to higher morbidity and health care consumption2
One important area where those in-home conversations can make a difference is medication management. During each visit, Glen carefully reviews every medication a member is taking, explaining its purpose, possible side effects and questions they may want to discuss with their physician.
After being prescribed a daily medication, Glen asked Gregory about the side effects he was having.
"He suggested that possibly I should only take this medication when I have a flare up," Gregory said. "Once I shared this with my VA medical provider, they concurred. They agreed. They said, 'He's right.'"
For Glen, being of service to the members who invite him into their home has been extremely rewarding.
“It feels like I’m growing old and aging with our members,” Glen said. “And it’s enhancing the experience and elevates the trust with me as their nurse practitioner and a provider for the HouseCalls program.”
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