Group office visits offer benefits for patients and busy physicians, according to an article in The New York Times, but a separate story published by Kaiser Health News cites studies showing mixed results.
For doctors who feel the squeeze of administrative burdens and the limitations of short office visits, appointments shared by several patients with similar needs makes sense, according to The New York Times. In particular, patients undergoing treatments for chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, may feel less alone and more accountable in a group setting.
The key to effective treatment of many chronic conditions lies in changing patients' habits and behaviors, as previously reported by FiercePracticeManagement. If a group setting can expose patients to others with their struggles, it can help keep patients accountable to one another and on track with their modified behaviors, according to Byron Haney, M.D. "I've never had a prediabetic convert to diabetic in a group setting," he said.
By contrast, Jamie Court, president of Consumer Watchdog, sees the move to group visits as "totally cost-driven," and argues that group settings inhibit the development of meaningful doctor-patient relationships. While several studies tout reduced costs, improved clinical outcomes and increased patient satisfaction, research on group visits overall has been "somewhat mixed," according to Kaiser Health News.
"This is patient-centered," Marianne Sumego, an internist at the Cleveland Clinic, told The New York Times, so like any other tool or technique, the use of group visits will differ from condition to condition and patient to patient. "With an aging population, I need to think outside the box," she said.
To learn more:
- read the New York Times article
- here's the Kaiser Health News story