Impact of group medical visits on patient engagement and quality of life.

BACKGROUND: Group medical visits (GMV) effectively improve patient care and outcomes through interactive education, increased patient contact, and facilitated social support. This quality improvement research examined if patient activation and quality of life correlate with weight, blood pressure (BP), and hemoglobin A1c (A1C) through GMV interventions. METHODS: Participants were enrolled in GMV Lighten Up for weight management or GMV Diabetes. At pre- and post-intervention, patients completed the Patient Activation Measure (PAM) and the health-related quality of life measure, the SF-12; and were assessed for weight, blood pressure (BP), and hemoglobin A1c (A1C). RESULTS: Weight and PAM scores significantly improved regardless of group. For patients in GMV Diabetes, A1C significantly decreased. GMV Lighten Up participants had statistically significant declines in diastolic BP. Both groups improved patient activation, but statistically significantly so only in GMV Diabetes participants. SF-12 scores did not statistically significantly improve. There were no predictors of A1C and PAM score change for the Diabetes GMV. However, age, SBP and SF-12 scores predicted PAM score changes in GMV Lighten up participants. CONCLUSIONS: Participants in this study showed overall improvement in biomarkers and patient activation. Thus, GMV continue to be a viable method for healthcare delivery.

Group Medical Visits: experiences with patient and resident implementation.

Objective: Patients with diabetes must navigate multiple components of care to self-manage their disease. Group Medical Visits (GMVs) are a forum for patients to see a provider as well as actively participate in education and care management with other patients with diabetes. The objective is to describe GMV implementation and resident involvement in a primary care setting.Methods: We adapted and implemented a GMV model into a primary care practice with a residency program. Residents attend GMV sessions that provide a continuity experience in addition to their regular clinic schedules. A cohort of patients enroll in a series of eight GMVs occurring over of 4 months. Each patient and resident complete surveys evaluating the visits.Results: There have been 14 GMV groups totaling 70 participants. GMV groups (N = 67) mean A1C for reduction was 0.53 ± 1.60 from baseline to 3- to 6-month post-GMV follow-up. Resident and patient feedback show an overall positive experience.Conclusion: The GMV model offers patients the setting to interact and exchange experiences with each other as well as to receive feedback from providers and the health-care team.  The incorporation of the GMV program into residency training provides a continuity group care experience and an alternative practice model.

Educational Strategies of Diabetes Group Medical Visits: A Review.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes is a demanding disease that is growing in prevalence. Improved outcomes for patients with diabetes are highly dependent on self-management skills and the ability to make lifestyle changes. Innovative healthcare approaches are necessary to meet these specific patient needs. A group care medical visit (GMV) combines diabetes check-ups with diabetes education in a supportive and patient centered environment that promotes effective self-management. GMVs are associated with improved diabetes outcomes including hemoglobin A1C, weight, and self-efficacy; however details of the methods by which content is delivered to achieve these outcomes remain vague. INTRODUCTION: Improved GMV diabetes outcomes may be the result of specific processes used in group care models. We seek to describe educational strategies, content, and qualities of facilitators that contribute to successful outcomes associated with diabetes GMVs. METHODS: A review of the literature was conducted focusing on diabetes GMVs, specifically the educational strategies implemented, topics discussed, and facilitator qualities that contribute to successful outcomes. RESULTS: We identified 260 citations containing information about GMVs in patients with diabetes. A total of 7 citations met inclusion criteria and additional 5 were found through reference lists and relevant papers. CONCLUSION: Diabetes GMV educational topics comprise standard themes of disease process, medication, nutrition, and exercise. Several programs, however, target the development and realization of individualized patient goals, giving the patient more involvement in the session. Methods for facilitation may hold the key to successfully activating patients to reach meaningful behavior change goals. In addition to using expert clinical skills in diabetes care, effective facilitators provide support, and empower patients to take ownership of their diabetes. Rigorous evaluation of best practices for both the type and methods of delivering content in GMVs is lacking. Translational research to evaluate the relative effectiveness of educational strategies can be leveraged toward the successful scale and spread of this innovative primary care model.