Welcome
Medical House Calls Are Back!
I treat minor medical problems in the Asheville area 24 hours a day when I am not on duty in the Emergency Room at the Hospital / Trauma Center in Asheville. Seeing you at your home, hotel, or place of business allows you to stay productive or wait in the comfort of your own “waiting” room. It also gives you very rapid access to a Board Certifed Emergency Medicine Physician who is familiar with your problems and needs and will call you the day after treatment to see how you are doing. Having seen you, I can then “go to bat” for you if you need referral to a specialist or consultation with your own existing physicians. I provide this service for my friends and family all the time. My patients tell me it’s like having a doctor in the family.
How does this work?
If an initial phone interview indicates treatment at your location is appropriate and safe, I will come to you and provide competent care in a relaxed, unhurried setting. If necessary, prescriptions can be called into one of Asheville’s 24-hour pharmacies. Prescriptions can also be brought to you. If treatment is not feasible on site, referrals to other locations will be facilitated. Reaching me via cell phone is fastest, but you can email, text (828 776 5668), or Skype me if desired. (allen.lalor.mobile on Skype)
Payment and Prices
The price for a house call is $220 during business hours on a weekday. Prices are higher after hours, at night, and on the weekend. Payment by cash or check or credit card (Visa, Master Card, American Express, and Discover) is expected at the time of service. The walk in fee at local urgent cares is $150, $180 after 5 pm as of 11/10/2009. The cost of an urgent care visit for wrist or ankle x-rays is $230. The average ER bill in the United States is $560. The cost of sewing up my wife’s finger in the ER in 2007 was $603. You will be provided with a printed medical record with appropriate diagnoses and coding. This allows you to request reimbursement from your insurance company. I do not file insurance claims or deal with their forms.
X-Ray Capabilities
I have partnered with a local company and can now provide mobile x-ray for all problems except injuries to the neck. So, we can answer the question, “Did I break my ankle or wrist?”, intitate treatment, and refer you to sports medicine or orthopedics if needed.
Medicare and Medicaid
Because I work primarily in the Emergency Department AND because of Federal Regulations, I am NOT allowed to see Medicare or Medicaid patients.
Allen Lalor, MD, FAAEM