While time brings progress, sometimes the old ways have their advantages. As so many have experienced, in today’s fast-paced, efficiency-focused world, even the medical system with its latest advances and technologies can fall short of fully addressing patients’ needs.
Enter House Call Doctor Thousand Oaks, Inc., a group of talented medical doctors that make house calls to treat patients’ routine and emergency medical needs. This old-fashioned model of patient care offers many advantages for doctors and patients alike, says Dr. Ellen Crowe, an ER physician also Board certified in Family Medicine (ABFM) and founder of House Call Doctor Thousand Oaks.
“By seeing people in their homes, we’re able to offer more time and attention to patients that oftentimes isn’t able to be provided in a typical primary care practice,” says Dr. Crowe, adding, “We’re able to serve patients for which leaving the house is an issue; and we really build relationships with patients, getting to know everybody, down to the name of their dog.”
Serving patients from Encino to Montecito, the group of experienced physicians can help patients with most any condition.
“We typically treat anything you could get done in an urgent care or at a good doctor’s office,” says Dr. Crowe, noting the mutual satisfaction that results from the enhanced one-on-one doctor/patient interaction.
“Being in someone’s home makes it possible to make a diagnosis that you sometimes can’t in the typical medical setting,” says Dr. Crowe, offering several examples.
One patient with a persistent rash had been to several skin doctors, to no avail… “while talking to her, I noticed her little dog licking her lower leg, which she couldn’t feel… and it turned out that’s what was causing a rash that she had seen multiple doctors for,” shares Dr. Crowe.
The patients at HCDTO appreciate the personalized care and the practice has grown from a single doctor in 2011 to five physicians, two physician assistants, nurses, medical assistants and even physician specialists on staff—plus chief operations officer, husband Paul.
Board-certified Internal Medicine physician Dr. Nicole Joel joined the staff over a year ago, splitting her time between Olive View Medical Center and House Call Doctor Thousand Oaks. With years of experience as a primary care attending physician at both University of California, San Diego Medical Center and Olive View UCLA Medical Center, Dr. Nicole enjoys being able to spend more time with her three children because of her work at HCDTO as a house call doctor.
“By spending extra time with people, you can really make a bigger difference in their health, learn more and build trust,” she shares. “You learn a lot about people and their health seeing them in their living environment and you get to take care of people who aren’t accessing health care, for example, one patient had fears about going to doctors and hadn’t seen a doctor for 15 years.”
Critical Care physician Dr. Ian Joel, Dr. Nicole’s husband, recently joined the group, after seeing how much his wife enjoyed the practice. A certified world-class expert in three specialties: Board certified in Pulmonology, Board certified in Critical Care and Board certified in Internal Medicine, Dr. Ian can handle complex cases.
“Dr. Ian is a trained pulmonologist and our go-to doctor for all things asthma, emphysema, cough, oxygen and related cardiac issues. He also brings experience diagnosing and advanced management of sleep apnea,” says Dr. Crowe.
When it comes to other complex issues, “we try to get patients to the right specialist and get them on the right page,” says Dr. Crowe, adding that House Call Doctor physicians can often accomplish ultrasound, EKG and X-rays at home.
HCDTO’s staff treats patients of all ages, and same-day appointments can often be accommodated. Dr. Crowe and her staff of dedicated medical professionals aim to provide patients with the best medical care and develop long-term relationships to optimize their health for years to come.
“It’s so rewarding to see the response when people realize they’re being heard for the first time,” says Dr. Crowe. “And to really be able to put things together; I love seeing the relief they have when they feel heard.”
Schedule an appointment at 805.380.3313 or visit HouseCallDoctorThousandOaks.com to learn more.
“By seeing people in their homes, we’re able to offer more time and attention to patients that oftentimes isn’t able to be provided in a typical primary care practice.”
“By spending extra time with people, you can really make a bigger difference in their health, learn more and build trust,” she shares. “You learn a lot about people and their health seeing them in their living environment."