There is a growing trend in health care that's kind of a "throw back", doctors making house calls.
Insurance company Aetna announced it is teaming up with the Los Angeles-based startup Heal to offer doctor house calls to the Atlanta metro area. According to Heal's website, the service is available in Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Forsyth, Fulton and Gwinnett counties.
Heal uses board-certified family practice doctors, internists and pediatricians. Service is available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day of the year. Atlanta residents not covered by Aetna can book a house call from Heal for $150.
WSB Consumer expert Clark Howard says, "I love this and this is something that's a win for everybody except the hospitals." He says it reduces costs, creates convenience and you don't end up sitting in a hospital emergency room with other sick people.
The question is, will it catch on. Howard says this is the third attempt as something like this in metro Atlanta in the past five years.