Start - ups offering house calls are popular in the US , providing the convenience of a clinician 's visit without having to leave your home , office or workplace . Most of the companies offer free apps that patients can install on their smartphones and use to request a housecall . However , opinion is divided as to whether this type of service is a threat to traditional primary care providers and whether the Uber - like model is appropriate for healthcare . The concept has its critics, including doctors who have actually done it. Tom Rodgers of GE Capital , an investor in house - call firms , says the jury is still out on whether the use of the house - call model can work long - term .
Start - ups offering house calls are popular in the US , providing the convenience of a clinician 's visit without having to leave your home , office or workplace . Most of the companies offer free apps that patients can install on their smartphones and use to request a housecall . However , opinion is divided as to whether this type of service is a threat to traditional primary care providers and whether the Uber - like model is appropriate for healthcare . Tom Rodgers of GE Capital , an investor in house - call firms , says the jury is still out on whether the use of the house - call model can work long - term .