Frequently Asked Questions
HouseCall MD’s services are ideally suited to patients and families seeking:
- the convenience of in-home visits
- personalized, consistent care
- direct access to your personal physician by phone or email
- a knowledgeable, kind provider to create and oversee a coordinated care plan
- an expert to advocate for you within the medical care system
- a geriatric specialist trained to meet the needs of older patients with limited mobility and patients with chronic and multiple medical conditions
- support to age gracefully, with an emphasis on preventive care and avoiding unnecessary emergency room visits and hospital stays
- a physician who helps patients and families understand treatment options and who works with them to make the best decisions, whatever needs arise
- greater dignity and more control in planning for the end of life
HouseCall MD (HCMD) offers services through a membership model. Dr. Flores can become your primary care provider, personal home physician, and health care advisor. As a member, you will have direct access to Dr. Flores via telephone, email, and a secured online patient portal where you will be able to make telephone and in-person appointments at your convenience. Members will also have access to telemedicine services, so you will have the opportunity to save money by avoiding unnecessary housecalls. HCMD will maintain HIPAA-compliant electronic medical records on your behalf and help you coordinate between hospital, clinic, and specialist visits.
Individuals who wish to access HCMD services must enroll as members by scheduling an initial enrollment visit and signing up for a membership. The term of a membership is month to month and paid in automatic monthly installments. A credit card on file or automated clearing house (ACH) transactions are required for automatic payments.
Spouses, Domestic Partners, and Family members who reside in the same location as the primary member may purchase additional memberships at a reduced cost. One membership is required for each additional member of the family.
Telemedicine is the use of telecommunication technology by health care professionals to evaluate, diagnose, and treat patients in a remote location. Telemedicine will allow Dr Flores to make remote evaluations, diagnoses, and treatments without the need for in-person visits. In some instances, in-person visits may be required for proper care. As your personal physician, Dr. Flores will work with you to determine when telemedicine is an option.
Schedule initial enrollment visit by sending a message to mail@housecallmd-nw.com
The initial enrollment fee includes a one-hour face to face visit with Dr. Flores at your place of residence. During this visit, Dr. Flores will answer all your questions about accessing services through HouseCall MD, collect basic member information, and provide members with their introductory member packet containing the membership agreement and consent forms.
Yes. Dr. Flores provides regular “Meet and Greet” events throughout the Portland metropolitan area where prospective members have the opportunity to talk with Dr. Flores in person and get to know the HCMD service model. To find out about upcoming events, follow Dr. Flores on Twitter @HouseCallMD_NW or Contact Us to request a “Meet and Greet” near you.
Because they are great! Not only do home visits provide a more complete picture of a patient’s condition, home visits also prevent the risks associated with transporting people from their home to the clinic. When you are frail and suffer from mobility impairments, home visits could be a life-saver! As if safety was not enough, the time-savings and convenience of house calls eliminate the hassle of taking care of your medical needs and allow you to address medical concerns proactively, before they are out of control.
If you wish to keep your PCP in the clinic, you may do so. If you do not have a PCP or you are looking for a new PCP, Dr Flores can serve as your PCP. As your personal home care physician or PCP, Dr Flores will work with you to coordinate between medical services delivered outside the home and provide medical information to hospitals and specialists on your behalf.
No. HCMD will not bill your insurance for professional medical services. However, HCMD will work with your insurance to make referrals, lab orders, and order any other services you may be eligible for.
No. Although Medicare covers some home visits that are considered “medically necessary”, Dr Flores will not bill Medicare for any of her home visits.
If you have a Health Savings Account you may be able get reimbursed for some of the fees paid to HCMD. Check with your Health Savings Account administrator to confirm eligible expenses.
Once a person is eligible to receive benefits from their Long Term Care insurance policy, they are able to use those benefits to pay for medical home care such as the one provided by HCMD. Check with your Long Term Care insurance policy provider about determining eligibility and qualifying expenses.
Long distance fees apply for any trips greater than 10 miles from our downtown Portland location on SW 5th Avenue.
The after-hours fee applies whenever a site visit or telephone appointment is requested to begin before 9am or after 5pm on weekdays. After-hours fees also apply to any appointments scheduled on weekends and holidays. Holidays follow the Portland Public Schools annual calendar and include US holidays occurring during the summer break.
Dr. Flores sees patients Monday-Friday, 9am-4pm. Weekend and evening appointments may be available upon request as per afterhours fees.
Reimbursable expenses can be anything that HCMD purchases on your behalf. Typically, these include medical equipment, supplies, and/or medications administered. As your personal home care physician, Dr Flores will work with you to utilize insurance coverage for all eligible equipment, supplies, and medications while ensuring that you also have the option to purchase your own through HCMD.
Dr. Flores can manage and treat the following health conditions:
- Dementia/Memory Loss
- Behavioral Issues Associated with Dementia
- Frequent Falls
- Depression
- Diabetes Mellitus
- Gastroenteritis/Colitis
- Hypertension
- Loss of appetite/Weight Loss
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Congestive Heart Failure
- Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease
- Chronic Pain
- Wounds
- Bronchitis/Pneumonia
- Skin Infections
- Bladder Infections
- Leg Swelling
And more…