The number of medical professionals that incorporate in-home health care is currently at about 4,000 nurse practitioners, physicians and others, specializing in the medical field. And that number is said to see a possible increase, according to an article, printed in a recent edition of The Northwest Indiana Times.

Such at-home visits can be scheduled for any type of patient care,  ranging from a follow-up visit from a hospital stay, to a regular check-up, to medication monitoring.

Part of this, is due to a provision called Independence at Home, which is part of the Affordable Care Act. The provision pushes for this type of physician service, in order to keep patients with chronic illnesses out of hospitals.

While the number of medical professionals providing this service might be increasing, there is a much greater need for doctors, than there actually are available doctors.

Executive Director Constance Row, of the  American Academy of Home Care Physicians’, was quoted in the article, “While 4,000 medical professionals are currently making home visits, the need is for more like 10,000,” said Row.