BELLEVILLE, Wis. -- Local doctors are among those putting their patients first by leaving the office to provide medical care.

Dr. Melissa Stiles includes house calls as part of her practice at the University of Wisconsin Belleville Clinic.

"I think it's important, especially in a rural community, to offer this service," said Stiles, a family physician.

Stiles said a typical office visit can feel cold, sterile and impersonal, while house calls are a service moving toward more personalized health care.

"I think that is really a movement that is going to focus on the patients and focuses on the relationship," said Stiles. "For patients who aren't as readily able to get transportation to the physician or are homebound I think it's a definite service I wanted to do.”

Stiles walks or drives to some of her patients -- just like her father used to.

Longtime Belleville resident Marilyn Fey has battled lung cancer for about a year now. Stiles has made house calls to her home for the last three months.

"I was going to radiation therapy everyday in Madison," said Fey.

But soon, the trips became too much for the 74-year-old.

"That took a lot out of me," she said.

In addition to the care and treatment, both women said they've grown closer, even creating a friendship.

"I just feel better after she's been here, after she's examined me," said Fey. "You have a sense you're going to live a lot longer."

Stiles said while hospice nurses do most home care, an increasing number of doctors and cities are providing the service too.

"Homecare overall has increased and I think as the aging population grows, we're just going to see more and more a need for home care," she said.

After a good check-up and an even better conversation, Stiles said she heads back to the office or to the next house knowing she's made a difference.

"If I can keep people in their homes, help keep people in their homes that's the greatest reward," she said.

Stiles said home visits decrease the rate of nursing home placement, hospitalizations, ER visits and can also decrease the stress on caregivers.

Another reason house calls might be becoming more appealing: Medicare covers 80 percent of doctor charges after patients cover their deductible and co-pays.

In a five year period, Medicare increased its total number of house calls it paid for from roughly $1.5 million to just more than $2 million. The average allowed charge is roughly $102.

Home visits tend to spike in winter and focus on patients who are homebound, have chronic illness or those with disabilities who aren't physically able to get to the doctor, added Stiles.

Stiles advises those interested in getting health care at home to contact their doctor or insurance provider.