abstract
- New Mexico is a rural state with unique barriers to health service delivery to homebound elderly. The University of New Mexico's Visiting Physicians Program allows these patients to stay in their homes by bringing physicians to them. The physicians use community agencies to provide nursing, lab, X-ray, and physical therapy services. The University of New Mexico has also integrated home visits into the medical students, residents and geriatric fellows' educational programs. By involving medical students, residents and fellows in home care, future physicians who practice in New Mexico will incorporate this valuable service into care for the homebound elderly in their practice communities.