Heal Brings Back Doctor House Calls

{Sponsored in partnership with Heal}

House calls should be a thing. It’s 5 pm on a Saturday and my daughter is complaining of an ear infection. She has had four sets of ear tubes, so waiting until Monday is not an option. Her pediatrician’s office is closed, which means I’ll likely end up at our local Urgent Care with wait times over an hour. Welcome to cold and flu season.

Despite my love for the rain and all-things cold, winter is my least favorite season, simply because of all the illnesses that run rampant. We travel throughout the year, and yet all four of us ended up getting sick during this last trip. Even my slightly compulsive hand-washing, probiotic-ridden, Vitamin C popping routine didn’t prevent this bout.

Heal – House Calls are Back

Remember when I said house calls should be a thing? They are! If you find yourself in need of a doctor outside of normal business hours and your last resort is the Emergency Room, you’ll take comfort in knowing that there is new service called Heal. Now expanding throughout California, Heal affords you access to quality, licensed physicians and pediatricians in the comfort of your home. My first thought when I learned about the service was that it reminded me of physician house calls which were prominent in the 1960s.

What is Heal?

Heal is a medical concierge service which provides families access to licensed primary care physicians who can provide certain services at your home, office, or hotel on your time schedule. Sick visits can be booked same day while wellness visits and physicals can be scheduled 1 day in advance.

When can I use Heal?

The most common reason for using Heal is when you or a member of your family is sick. Common illnesses that can be treated with house calls include colds and flu (including cough, sore throat and fever), skin rashes, ear infections, stomach aches and sports injuries. When you put in a request to see a physician, the questionnaire will ask whether or not you believe the symptoms are life-threatening. You can then select the reason for your visit including illness or injury, annual physical or flu shot. Choose from available dates and times, input your insurance information (or opt to pay for your visit via credit card) and your visit will be booked.

I love the security of knowing I have access to a physician weekends and evenings when everything else is closed. But another lesser known advantage of Heal is the ability to schedule wellness check-ups. I called my kids’ pediatrician a few weeks back to schedule a physical and the wait time was over a month. If you find yourself needing a wellness check-up for yourself or your family, consider scheduling one through Heal. The list includes well-baby exams, annual physicals, sports physicals, camp physicals, school physicals, family health assessments and flu shots. The physician can also draw labs right in the comfort of your own home and take them to a local lab for processing, which is a huge time saver.

Have you moved and are in need of a physician? Heal is a great way to help you find a physician in your area. Many people feel at ease seeing a physician in the comfort of their own home and prefer to use Heal for their concerns. Visit Heal for more information about how to schedule your first visit.

How much does Heal cost?

If you prefer to pay via credit card, single house calls are $99. There may be additional costs for lab tests, medications, imaging, and other services.

Can I use my own insurance?

At present, Heal accepts most Anthem and Blue Shield PPO members. The co-pay is the same for a typical office visit. Once you input your insurance information, you’ll be notified as to whether it will be accepted and what your co-pay is.

Who are the doctors utilized by Heal?

All of the physicians contracted with Heal are licensed and include pediatricians, general practice physicians and internal medicine doctors. Additionally, pediatricians are background-checked, so you can feel safe and secure with all house calls. You can view photos and bios for all of the contracted physicians on the website.

Heal is convenient, affordable, and offers peace of mind during those times when access to a physician is limited. The typical wait time is less than 2 hours, which is often less than a visit to the Urgent Care or Emergency Room. An added benefit of using Heal is receiving services right in the comfort of your own home. The anxiety of seeing a physician is alleviated when kids are seen in a familiar environment.

To book your next visit with Heal, visit their website or use their free app, available on iTunes and Google Play.

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Caryn Bailey

Caryn is a NICU nurse by day, blogger by night and mom 24/7. She savors the warm Southern California sun and loves to travel, shopping, baking, reading and frequenting her local tea room. Caryn created the column Lavishly Green for Peekaboo Picks Magazine to share her best tips for going green in style, she is the Former editor for Family Review Network, former OC Family Magazine online contributor, former Orange County Moms Blog contributor, former Evenflo Savvy Parent contributor, former member of the Totsy Advisory Board and former freelance writer for CBS Los Angeles.