HouseCalls: Helping older adults thrive in their later years
HouseCalls makes an impact at home
For HouseCalls nurse practitioner Rob Riepenhoff, visiting UnitedHealthcare members in their homes is about more than completing a visit — it’s about building relationships that help people live healthier, fuller lives.
That’s especially true when it comes to Robert Ford.
The two share more than a member-provider connection. They’re part of the same community, crossing paths not only during Robert’s annual HouseCalls visit but sometimes in the aisles of the local grocery store, where Robert works as a butcher. It’s not unusual for Rob to stop and say hello, a greeting often met with a hearty handshake or a hug.
“We both get excited to see each other and I really enjoy visiting with him at his home,” Rob said.
Those everyday interactions reflect the kind of care Rob strives to provide.
“It's just nice to see Rob. It's like an old pal showed up, you know,” Robert said. “He's somebody who I really appreciate.”
For Rob, the opportunity to meet people where they live, and to help improve their health, has been extremely meaningful. In an hour’s visit, there is the opportunity to not only give a thorough physical exam, but also to listen to the member’s concerns and provide education where needed.
“When we go to their house, we're spending an extraordinary amount of time with that person,” Rob said. “We go over all their medications with them and explain to them. A lot of the times they don't know why they're on the medications that they're on.”
HouseCalls visits: Proven results
HouseCalls is a yearly in-home visit available to most UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage members, which is available at no additional cost and helps ensure the member has access to preventive care in between their regular doctor visits.
After the visit, a summary is sent to the primary care provider (PCP) with any diagnoses, recommendations and the vital signs captured during the visit. The member also receives an “Ask Your PCP” form with suggested topics that can help guide a future conversation with a PCP.
Perhaps more than anything, a HouseCalls visit helps foster one of the most precious commodities in a clinical setting: time.
“He was able to take his time and allow me to say some of the things I don't get to say to my doctor,” Robert said, “and he was able to make comments and suggestions for me.”
HouseCalls visits may also help members get back on track with their health:
- 86% 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
What a HouseCalls visit means for members
For Robert, the visits he receives have been valuable for his health and care coordination. After surviving lung cancer, he’s more conscious about his health, wanting to be active in his neighborhood and there for his children and grandchildren.
“It gave me a piece of reassurance instead of me just surviving,” Robert said. “It kind of made me want to thrive.”
HouseCalls – and his connection with Rob – has helped make that possible.
“Having Rob and HouseCalls, it kind of settles my nerves. It's a good feeling,” Robert said. “It's reassuring to have somebody on your team that's on your side, you know.”
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