WASHINGTON -- Nothing can ruin a vacation or business trip like getting sick. Now people who visit D.C. have a new option when placed in that situation.

A group of emergency room doctors from George Washington Hospital are making house calls to hotel guests.

"Time is of the essence to our guests and they want to get on with their sightseeing," said Ginny Thomason of the Washington Area Concierge Association.

For people visiting the Washington area, finding timely treatment for non-emergency medical issues can be a challenge.

"We can provide a service in their room, very quickly, usually within an hour, and can get them to enjoy the rest of their stay," Dr. Neal Sikka, of Inn House Doctors, said.

Travelers don't even have to worry about office hours. The doctors said they are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They also travel with medical bags stocked with supplies to take care of some of the most common problems such as dehydration, infections, aches and pains.

"There are probably five to 10 medicines that we use most commonly in the emergency department, " said Dr. Raj Chand.

The Washington Tourism Association said D.C. gets about 11 million visitors every year. Medical professionals at GW hospital did a survey and found that about 18 percent of patients visiting their emergency room were from out of town.

"We probably have in a month, three or four, every single month, that need an in-house doctor. Maybe even more than that, and this is just one hotel. And, I know some other hotels in the city that use it more than that," said Thomason.

The doctors make house calls to hotels in D.C., Maryland and Virginia. The hotel guests have to pay for the service out of pocket, and they can submit a claim to their insurance company.