Memphis Pediatrician Revives the Traditional House Call
Experience the Nostalgic Feel of Personal Care with a Modern Treatment Approach
There’s something special happening in Memphis, Tennessee where old traditions have been given a fresh spin. Nostalgia is the vibe, but this is not about a vintage car show or a retro cafe opening. The news is focused on healthcare where a local pediatrician is reviving an almost forgotten practice—the house call. Meet Dr. Katie Barger, a pediatrician weaving an amalgamation of old-school patient care into the modern healthcare industry.
Bringing Back the Personal Touch to Healthcare
Dr. Barger’s approach might seem unconventional for some, yet she believes in the power of interpersonal connections in caring for her young patients. With her stethoscope and physician’s bag in hand, she visits her little patients in the comfort and privacy of their own homes, rejuvenating an age-old practice deemed redundant by many. This way, she not only uproots the exhausting waiting-room formalities, infuriating insurance procedures, and elaborate check-in processes but also adds a personal touch in today’s somewhat impersonal healthcare services.
The Pediatrician of the people
“The idea of a country doctor who knows their patients well, and visits them at their homes, has always intrigued me,” remarks Dr. Barger. Her fascination for house calls goes back to her medical school days at the Quillen College, part of East Tennessee State University in Johnson City where they were part of the curriculum under rural medicine track.
A Progressive Retrograde
Largely rendered obsolete in the latter half of the 20th century with healthcare becoming increasingly hospital-centric, the concept of house calls might seem like a step back. But in reality, Dr. Barger’s model represents a leap forward in offering personalized patient care. Her approach focuses on quality over quantity and forms genuine relationships with her patients and their families, encapsulating the wholesome essence of a community pediatrician—an unlikely light at the end of an industrialized medical tunnel.
Modern Care with a Vintage Feel
Don’t let the old-world aesthetics fool you; the service she provides is rooted in modern medical principles and caters to a wide urban and suburban clientele. The house calls aren’t laissez-faire check-ups; they are comprehensive consultations ensuring thorough discussions about patients’ well-being. Children and their families can communicate openly in the comfort of their homes, ensuring that the doctor develops a more detailed understanding of the child’s overall health and lifestyle.
Dr. Katie Barger’s endeavor to integrate the warmth and familiarity of traditional house calls into an increasingly impersonal and industrial healthcare industry is a significant development in local healthcare services. While this certainly harks back to an old-timey practice, its potential impact on contemporary healthcare might be both revolutionary and reverential. Even though the concept of house calls fell out of favor for reasons related to effectiveness and economics, its resurgence in a new light offers a fresh perspective into patient care, and most importantly, human touch.
As the saying goes, “Old is Gold,” but won’t it be interesting to see how this gold fares in its new form?
