Local Physician Still Makes House Calls
By: WROC-TV
Updated: September 12, 2012
Dr. Lisa Vargish has a thriving medical practice treating older adults, but they don't come to her.
Instead, she goes to them. Vargish is one of two physicians in an innovative program called Physician House Calls, run by Jewish Senior Life. Vargish says the service is needed and is a great help to those who are up in age.
"It's harder for them to get out of their homes," she said. "They need the medical care, and it's wonderful to be able to provide it for them in their homes."
Ellsworth Downs, 90, is one of Dr. Vargish's patients. He lives with his daughter and son-in-law in Webster. At least once a month, Dr. Vargish pays a visit to perform routine and sometimes acute care. Downs holds the utmost respect for what Vargish does.
"I wish I had the vocabulary to fully describe what we think of her," he said.
"She's like another daughter," Vonnie Askins said. "We love her."
In Monroe County, Physician House Calls began six years ago. It now has 140 patients, and Jewish Senior life says there's a waiting list. Most health insurance plans cover Physician House Calls, but Medicare reimbursement runs short. Jewish Senior Life hopes the federal government will see the value of the program. Patients already do.
"We touch about 3000 lives a year within all that we do at Jewish Senior life, so that within that 3000, word of mouth spreads very, very quickly," Dan Katz said.
Experts say house calls cut down on the number of preventable admissions to the hospital and the emergency room. For two years Ellsworth's wife Leona was also a patient. Dr. Vargish tended to her through the end of her life last August. But Leona never needed hospital visits or trips to the ER, which her family is thankful for.
For more information on the Physicians House Calls program, click here.
Instead, she goes to them. Vargish is one of two physicians in an innovative program called Physician House Calls, run by Jewish Senior Life. Vargish says the service is needed and is a great help to those who are up in age.
"It's harder for them to get out of their homes," she said. "They need the medical care, and it's wonderful to be able to provide it for them in their homes."
Ellsworth Downs, 90, is one of Dr. Vargish's patients. He lives with his daughter and son-in-law in Webster. At least once a month, Dr. Vargish pays a visit to perform routine and sometimes acute care. Downs holds the utmost respect for what Vargish does.
"I wish I had the vocabulary to fully describe what we think of her," he said.
"She's like another daughter," Vonnie Askins said. "We love her."
In Monroe County, Physician House Calls began six years ago. It now has 140 patients, and Jewish Senior life says there's a waiting list. Most health insurance plans cover Physician House Calls, but Medicare reimbursement runs short. Jewish Senior Life hopes the federal government will see the value of the program. Patients already do.
"We touch about 3000 lives a year within all that we do at Jewish Senior life, so that within that 3000, word of mouth spreads very, very quickly," Dan Katz said.
Experts say house calls cut down on the number of preventable admissions to the hospital and the emergency room. For two years Ellsworth's wife Leona was also a patient. Dr. Vargish tended to her through the end of her life last August. But Leona never needed hospital visits or trips to the ER, which her family is thankful for.
For more information on the Physicians House Calls program, click here.
