Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get an appointment with Medical House Calls?
The Medical House Calls schedule is essentially a first call, first see basis. Please call 252-475-2007 for appointment availability.
Are you open 24 hours?
No, our schedule fluctuates, so it’s best to call for availability. We do not treat emergent situations or illnesses. If you feel like you have a situation that requires emergent attention, you should call 911. If you have an illness or injury that you feel is too serious to wait until the next business day, the Outer Banks does have a 24 hour Emergency Department at the Outer Banks Hospital in Nags Head.
Do you take insurance?
Medical House Calls is a fee for service medical practice. Payment is made at the time of service, and a receipt is provided for you to submit to your individual insurance companies. Please call 252-475-2007 for fee schedule.
Are you a Medicare or Medicaid provider?
No.
How do we pay for the visit?
We take cash, check, Visa or Mastercard.
What is a Physician Assistant?
A Physician Assistant (PA) is a certified medical provider that practices medicine under the supervision of a physician. Who is the medical provider that will come to visit me? Rikki Schuster is the primary medical provider that makes house calls for this practice. She graduated from the Physician Assistant’s program at Kings College in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania in 1995. From there, she worked full time in a high volume Emergency Department in Memphis Tennessee for 6 years before moving to the Outer Banks. Here she has practiced at the various Urgent Care Centers prior to founding Medical House Calls in 2002.
Who is the supervising physician?
Patrick Daus, D.O. is the supervising physician for Medical House Calls. He is currently an attending physician at Beaufort General Hospital’s Emergency Department in Washington, NC. He is available to PA Schuster for telephone consultation as required by the North Carolina guidelines for practicing Physician Assistants.
Do you write prescriptions?
Yes. We typically call in your prescription to the nearest pharmacy for your convenience.
Do you do well baby checks, or well child checks?
We prefer you establish and keep a relationship with your pediatrician for well visits. It is important to have a strong relationship with your private medical provider throughout the years. Medical House Calls does not provide required immunizations for children. The same goes for adults. It’s in your best interest to obtain a general physical exam from your private medical provider who would be able to do any diagnostic testing that is appropriate for your age. We do provide sport physicals, camp physicals, and basic captain’s license physicals for the local residents, but they are not to replace the physical exams you should have with your own provider.
How did Medical House Calls begin?
After working in the local Urgent Care Centers (walk in clinics) for 2 years, Rikki Schuster decided she wanted to provide the people who live in and visit the Outer Banks another health care option. With the unique population fluctuation we have during the peak tourist season, the few medical clinics that will see the visitors are usually quite full in the summer, and typically have a lengthy wait time for simple illnesses. For example, if you are staying in Corolla, and you have a small child with an ear infection, you may have to spend an entire day of your vacation on the road and in a waiting room. With Medical House Calls, you may have to wait a few hours for an appointment, but you are waiting at your beach cottage with the rest of your family, enjoying your vacation, until the provider knocks on your door. It’s amazing how many repeat patients we have had from places like New York and Maryland.
“I have an example of a wonderful family from Northern Virginia who I’ve had the opportunity to take care of for the last three years. In fact, last year, the oldest child felt like he was getting sick the day before they were leaving for vacation. His mom was going to try to take him into his doctor before coming here, but he told her he would rather wait and have “Dr. Rikki” see him when he got to the Outer Banks!” – Rikki Schuster, PA-C
The Medical House Calls schedule is essentially a first call, first see basis. Please call 252-475-2007 for appointment availability.
Are you open 24 hours?
No, our schedule fluctuates, so it’s best to call for availability. We do not treat emergent situations or illnesses. If you feel like you have a situation that requires emergent attention, you should call 911. If you have an illness or injury that you feel is too serious to wait until the next business day, the Outer Banks does have a 24 hour Emergency Department at the Outer Banks Hospital in Nags Head.
Do you take insurance?
Medical House Calls is a fee for service medical practice. Payment is made at the time of service, and a receipt is provided for you to submit to your individual insurance companies. Please call 252-475-2007 for fee schedule.
Are you a Medicare or Medicaid provider?
No.
How do we pay for the visit?
We take cash, check, Visa or Mastercard.
What is a Physician Assistant?
A Physician Assistant (PA) is a certified medical provider that practices medicine under the supervision of a physician. Who is the medical provider that will come to visit me? Rikki Schuster is the primary medical provider that makes house calls for this practice. She graduated from the Physician Assistant’s program at Kings College in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania in 1995. From there, she worked full time in a high volume Emergency Department in Memphis Tennessee for 6 years before moving to the Outer Banks. Here she has practiced at the various Urgent Care Centers prior to founding Medical House Calls in 2002.
Who is the supervising physician?
Patrick Daus, D.O. is the supervising physician for Medical House Calls. He is currently an attending physician at Beaufort General Hospital’s Emergency Department in Washington, NC. He is available to PA Schuster for telephone consultation as required by the North Carolina guidelines for practicing Physician Assistants.
Do you write prescriptions?
Yes. We typically call in your prescription to the nearest pharmacy for your convenience.
Do you do well baby checks, or well child checks?
We prefer you establish and keep a relationship with your pediatrician for well visits. It is important to have a strong relationship with your private medical provider throughout the years. Medical House Calls does not provide required immunizations for children. The same goes for adults. It’s in your best interest to obtain a general physical exam from your private medical provider who would be able to do any diagnostic testing that is appropriate for your age. We do provide sport physicals, camp physicals, and basic captain’s license physicals for the local residents, but they are not to replace the physical exams you should have with your own provider.
How did Medical House Calls begin?
After working in the local Urgent Care Centers (walk in clinics) for 2 years, Rikki Schuster decided she wanted to provide the people who live in and visit the Outer Banks another health care option. With the unique population fluctuation we have during the peak tourist season, the few medical clinics that will see the visitors are usually quite full in the summer, and typically have a lengthy wait time for simple illnesses. For example, if you are staying in Corolla, and you have a small child with an ear infection, you may have to spend an entire day of your vacation on the road and in a waiting room. With Medical House Calls, you may have to wait a few hours for an appointment, but you are waiting at your beach cottage with the rest of your family, enjoying your vacation, until the provider knocks on your door. It’s amazing how many repeat patients we have had from places like New York and Maryland.
“I have an example of a wonderful family from Northern Virginia who I’ve had the opportunity to take care of for the last three years. In fact, last year, the oldest child felt like he was getting sick the day before they were leaving for vacation. His mom was going to try to take him into his doctor before coming here, but he told her he would rather wait and have “Dr. Rikki” see him when he got to the Outer Banks!” – Rikki Schuster, PA-C