12/10/2025
Until the mid-20th century it was not unusual for the doctor visit patients in their own homes. A general practitioner might make 15 or 20 such house calls in a day, as well as seeing patients in the office or “surgery,” often in the evenings. This enabled him to become a family doctor in fact as well as in name. In modern practice, however, a home visit is quite exceptional and is paid only to the severely disabled or seriously ill when other recourses are ruled out. All patients are normally required to go to the doctor.