Promoting the health and dignity of frail elders
Many elders struggle with disability and severe chronic illness and have difficulty getting to the doctor’s office. As a result, their health may suffer and lead to unnecessary ER visits, hospitalization, or nursing home care. In 1999, recognizing the needs of such elders and their families, we created the MedStar House Call program - MedStar Total Elder Care to provide full medical and social services that help elders remain in their homes with dignity. These teams now serve Washington, D.C., Baltimore, MD, and Montgomery County.
The MedStar House Call Program - MedStar Total Elder Care is nationally recognized for the quality and outcomes of our care. We serve patients at home with a team of geriatricians, nurse practitioners (NPs), social workers, office nurses, and coordinators. We make routine and urgent house calls (in-person or via telehealth with video or audio-only phone visits). Our medical staff is also available by phone 24/7 for urgent issues. We provide access to state-of-the-art hospital and specialty care. Additionally, our physician team follows our patients if and when they are admitted to the MedStar Washington Hospital Center.
The House Call program serves our neighbors in Washington, D.C., Baltimore, and Montgomery County.
MedStar House Call Program
(operating under MedStar Total Elder Care, LLC)
Our program services
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Medical house calls and primary care by doctors and nurse practitioners with expertise in the care of older adults
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Counseling and caregiver support by social workers and team staff
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We offer tests and treatments at-home, and at the hospital as needed
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Home delivery of most medications and equipment
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Coordination of specialist care at MedStar Washington Hospital, MedStar Montgomery Medical Center, or MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital
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Coordination of home nursing, rehab therapy, and hospice
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Coordination of support services such as home aides and legal assistance
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On-call physicians: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (by phone)
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Mobile electronic health record (EHR)
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D.C. Neighborhood only – Case management for Medicaid Elderly Persons with Disabilities (EPD) Waiver
Hospital care and specialists
Our team coordinates emergency, hospital, and specialty care at MedStar Washington Hospital, MedStar Montgomery Medical Center, and MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital. Patients may keep their previous specialist doctors; we work with them as needed. We refer to MedStar Good Samaritan, MedStar Montgomery, MedStar Washington, for home-based podiatry or other new specialist care. If House Call patients require hospitalization, and 911 is not needed, our team can arrange transportation and admission to MedStar Good Samaritan, MedStar Montgomery, or MedStar Washington when beds are available.
Social work services
Our dedicated team of social workers provides:
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Psychosocial assessment
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Care Coordination
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Development of a care plan
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Information and referral to community resources and supports
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Caregiver education, support, and counseling
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Advocacy
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Crisis intervention
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Assistance with identifying alternative living arrangements, as needed
Eligibility
Enrollment and insurance
To qualify for the MedStar House Call Program, patients must:
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Be 65 years or older and have difficulty getting to the doctor’s office
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Have Medicare, Medicaid, or another participating insurance plan
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Stop seeing their previous primary doctor and agree to have us take on that role following the first visit
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Live in a qualifying ZIP code
Our office is open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday.
When calling about new patient enrollment, please have the following information:
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Patient's name, address, telephone number
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Patient's date of birth and social security number
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Patient's next of kin and emergency contact information
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Patient's health insurance information (including type and group number)
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Patient's current medical conditions and concerns
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Ability to retrieve patient's recent medical records
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Baltimore neighbors, print and complete our Intake Questionnaire form
As in most doctor's offices, your main health insurance (such as Medicare) covers 80 percent of House Call visit fees, and any secondary insurance covers the other 20 percent. The patients who do not have any secondary insurance are responsible for the 20 percent co-pay.
View the map below to check if you live in a qualifying ZIP code. Call our Washington, D.C., or Baltimore location to confirm MedStar House Call Program eligibility at your exact address.
Washington, D.C.,
Montgomery County
Our team
Washington, D.C., region team - 202-877-0570
Physicians
Eric De Jonge, MD, – Section Director
Guy (Binny) Chang, MD
Nurse Practitioners
Nancy Sassa, CRNP - Chief
Alexandra (Caitlin) Geary, CRNP
Michelle Sullivan, CRNP
Office Nurse
Kendel Ogbeab, RN
Social Workers
Gretchen Nordstrom, LICSW - Chief
Kellie Jones, LICSW
Ruth Shea, LICSW
Operations Manager
Isi Koroma
Care Coordinators
LaWanda Holeman
Sandra Mills
Carrie Carmon
Yvette Williams
Baltimore region team – 443-444-6100
Physicians
George Taler, MD
Sharareh Badri, MD
Nurse Practitioner
Dorothy Were, CRNP
Adama Panda, CRNP
Nurse
Nerland Dimanche, RN, MSN
Social Worker
Marina Nellius, LMSW
Operations Director
Shereen Greene, MBA
Care Coordinator
Taurshica Lee
Operational support
Executive Director
George Hennawai, MD
AVP Operations
Julie Beecher, MS, MPH
Montgomery County - 301-570-7400
Contact us
Baltimore Neighborhood
To learn more about our services in the Baltimore region, call us today at 443-444-6100
Montgomery County Neighborhood
To learn more about our services in the Montgomery County region, call us today at 301-570-7400
Washington, D.C., Neighborhood
To learn more about our services in the Washington, D.C., region, call us today at 202-877-0570
Support our work
Click to view our latest impact report.
Your gift supports the daily work of our staff, who drive throughout Washington to care for those most in need. Medicare does not cover the full costs of our team, travel time, and intensive efforts needed to care for elders until the last day of life. When making your gift, under Designation, please select "Total Elder Care and House Call Program." Thank you!