The 1970s television program “Marcus Welby, MD” probably inspired a lot of young Boomers to pursue careers in medicine. The gentle Dr. Welby, played by Robert Young, was a model of compassion back in the days when doctors made house calls.

Now, a real-life doctor, Henry Tripp, MD, has brought back the house call to help Guilford County seniors improve their quality of life with preventive care and disease management they might not otherwise receive.

“It takes a lot of trust to be allowed into homes to establish relationships with patients today,” says Dr. Tripp, who finds a new sense of fulfillment in his home-centered practice.

Dr. Tripp founded Physicians Home Visits to serve the needs of seniors who have difficulty making office visits. While he attributes his inspiration to Marcus Welby, Dr. Tripp also acknowledges he grew up in a health care family with a mother and aunts who were nurses and instilled an interest in caring and science.

Caring for aging parents is often a common thread between Boomers. Dr. Tripp, a 1978 graduate of Smith High School, provides free seminars to both address the personal health concerns of aging Boomers and assist them in managing the health of elderly parents.

“You need a road map,” suggests Dr. Tripp. “Communication is vital. The most important thing for your mother or father is developing a comprehensive plan that starts with talking and determining their wishes for end of life care.”

Visiting some 50 patients every week, Dr. Tripp is an expert in talking to seniors about their health. In his practice the conversation not only informs the physician of physical needs, but it also plays an important role in maintaining emotional and mental health.

“Statistics are frightening,” says Dr. Tripp. “Fifty percent of the population will have some form of dementia by age 85.”

Given the coming wave of aging Boomers, Dr. Tripp sees a need to make more advances in mental health care. “We have made a lot of headway with cardio and cancer, but with people living longer, we are faced with new challenges.”

There’s sound business and societal value in Dr. Tripp’s approach. Through health maintenance, seniors are less likely to need hospitalization. With the average hospital stay costing $40,000, the wellness achieved with regular in-home visits is a big savings for everyone.

Dr. Tripp began his career as a surgeon, after graduating from Duke. He served as a physician in the United States Air Force, then returned as a civilian to practice surgery at Duke and in Virginia.

A few years ago, he made a life changing decision to get into primary care, serving seniors where he sees both great needs and fulfilling opportunities, “In some ways, patients are withdrawing from traditional medicine,” says Dr. Tripp. “Patients are looking online more and becoming more aware and more empowered and I would like to see us pull more from alternative therapies when traditional approaches are ineffective.

“There are a lot of things we can’t treat, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have feelings.” To learn more about Physicians Home Visits, call 993.3146.