A knock at your door could be a Doc at your door

The house call – a once-common medical practice now nearly obsolete – is making a comeback in the Washington, D.C.-metro area. This summer, it’s returning to the Delaware shore, as well.

Special to the Coastal Point • Meredith Thompson
Dr. June Castner extended her A Doc at Your Door medical service from the D.C.-metro area into the Bethany Beach area this year. She will provide house calls through Labor Day.

A Doc At Your Door, which blends convenience with contemporary medical practices, is an in-home service through which Castner treats minor urgent illnesses, including ear and eye infections, sinus infections, colds, strep throat, allergic reactions and influenza. She also provides care for bites, stings and minor injuries or burns.

After taking time away from her career to be with her children, Castner developed an idea that would allow her to continue practicing medicine without compromising her dedication to her family.

“Throughout the years, with four kids – especially when they were little – when one got sick I would have to take them all in [to her office] with me, and I always thought, ‘It would be great if someone could just come here,’” said Castner of her idea’s origin. “So I put the two together and decided to give it a try.”

Castner said she knew the types of illnesses and injuries common to vacationers and locals alike, having spent one summer working in an emergency walk-in clinic in Ocean City, Md. Last summer, she decided the Bethany area had a great need for her skills, as so many people are away from their homes – and their doctors – each summer.

“It’s a more personal approach to medicine,” Castner said of her door-to-door business. “When people call, they speak to me directly – there’s no one that filters my calls – so I can immediately know whether or not it’s something I can treat.”

The benefits of a house call do not end at convenience. Pre-scheduled appointments save families time and prevent them from sitting in waiting rooms for extended periods. Personalized follow-ups also assist patients in travelling the road to recovery as quickly as possible.

“I know my patients – I can easily follow up with them the next day, see how they’re doing, if there’s anything that needs to be adjusted,” said Castner. “If they have any questions about medications, or something else, they can call me back.”

A Doc at Your Door was born about two years ago and now services northwest D.C. and the surrounding Virginia and Maryland suburbs.

Castner’s career began in neonatal and pediatric intensive care units prior to her graduation from Georgetown School of Medicine in Washington, D.C. With a medical degree in hand, she then worked in emergency medicine in an urgent-care office.

A Doc at Your Door is a paid service, and fees are based on complexity of the visit, length of time and the patient’s location. After making payments through PayPal, cash or credit, patients can seek reimbursement from their individual insurance carriers, based on the detailed receipt they receive from Castner.

“It allows for a better relationship between the practitioner and the patient,” summarized Castner of the overarching benefit of a house call.

For more information, visit www.adocatyourdoor.com or call (202) 386-6788.