Doctor in the house

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This article was published 07/07/2025 (271 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

House calls might seem like a thing of the past, but Manitoba physicians made tens of thousands of them last year.

“I think there’s a lot of marginalized people, elderly people, who can’t get out, especially in the wintertime, and it makes a huge difference to a lot of people when someone can actually come see your kids at home, said Dr. Chris Emery at Envoy Medical Dispatch, which arranges house calls on weekdays.

In 2024, physicians across the province made 20,186 house calls. The appointments are covered by Manitoba Health, and are carried out by physicians who, typically, incorporate house calls into their wider practice at clinics.

Emery was an early adopter of house calls in Winnipeg. He grew up in England watching his father, a physician, treat patients at home. While he no longer does house calls today, his colleagues at Envoy do, and he’s watched the nature of the practice change.

“I used to do a lot of house calls, because that was how you built up the population of your patient load,” he said. “You would offer services people would like, you’d go out and see the kids of the people you saw, and that was just part of being a doctor, but everything changes as the years go by.”

The prevalence of virtual health care doctor appointments — through resources such as QDoc — have resulted in a drop in house calls. In 2011, Manitoba Health registered 31,000 house calls.

Virtual visits, introduced at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, have remained popular; just over one-quarter or all visits to a family doctor last year were virtual, says Doctors Manitoba.

“It’s fair to assume that a decrease in house calls has gradually occurred as virtual visits became an option in Manitoba, enabling patients to remain at home for the visit with the doctor on a phone or video call,” a spokesperson for the organization said in an email.

“Physicians note both of these options can be particularly helpful for older adults and other vulnerable patients who are either too unwell to leave their homes or are unable to get to an in-person visit at a doctor’s office.”

At White Cross Healthcare, two doctors take same-day house calls in different neighbourhoods in the city. The clinic assigns house calls seven days a week, starting at 8 a.m.

When a patient requests a house call, the office checks whether one of its doctors is in that neighbourhood and sets up the appointment. If not, a phone call appointment is offered.

A medical receptionist at White Cross, who didn’t want her name used, said each doctor treats 100 to 200 patients every two weeks, and that number has grown as new clients learn about the service.

“Some people didn’t even know that we’ve been operating, and then they find out, (and say), ‘Well, this is perfect, because I can’t get out of bed with my leg,’ or something like that,” she said.

“Some are regulars that we’ve been dealing with for 10 years, it works out for everyone.”

There are limitations. Patients may have to call around to different clinics to find one that has a doctor available for a home, visit and appointments typically don’t have a precise start time.

At White Cross, physicians don’t give needles, staples, stitches, or change dressings, for hygienic reasons.

The house call standards of practice is similar to that of a walk-in clinic, said the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba. If the patient has a family doctor, the house call physician is expected to refer them to the family doctor for any followup.

At times, White Cross will refer patients to an emergency room based on the description of symptoms, rather than send a physician.

Their patients range from just a few months old to older than 100, and come from all walks of life.

“We have a lot of regular patients, we have new patients, patients who… (have) mobility issues or anxiety issues,” the receptionist said.

“I find it helps a lot of people in ways when they can’t go to the clinic.”

malak.abas@freepress.mb.ca