Shared Medical Visits

What Is a Shared Medical Visit?  A shared medical visit is usually a 90-minute medical visit that is shared with 8 to 15 other patients  Your doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant is there  Other members of your healthcare team may also be there  During a shared visit, you still get your own time to be examined and talk about personal issues privately with your doctor

Conditions That Are Often the Focus of Shared Visits  Weight control  Diabetes  High blood pressure  Heart disease  Asthma  Depression  Osteoporosis  Multiple sclerosis  Sleep problems  Women’s health  Well-care or “preventive care” (physicals, annual exams)

Benefits  You get to see healthcare providers who are experts on different topics like: o Disease management o Medication taking o Healthy eating o Behavior and lifestyle changes  You get help and tips from other patients who have the same condition and can learn more when you hear: o What other patients are going through o What they ask o The way they fix their problems  You get more face time with your doctor than you would in a regular visit and usually feel less rushed

These Types of Visits can…  Make you happier with your doctor  Make your relationship with your doctor better  Cut back visits to specialists  Help you do better with your health  Help you stay on top of your medicines  Help you take better care of yourself  Make you happier in general

These Visits Are Your Choice and Are Kept Private  Your own medical history and condition(s) are NOT shared with the group as a whole  If you want to, you can share your story with other patients  You sign a special form (called a “HIPAA” notice) for the group visit that states that you: o Agree to meet with a group of patients and your doctor o Understand that you have the choice to be seen by your doctor in this group or alone o Agree to keep everything that you hear about other patients in the group private o Agree to pay your co-pay or bill for the group visit

How Will It Work? (Osteoporosis Example) Minutes 60 Minutes (30 Minutes each) Minutes Check-in, Introductions, Welcome Group Education Nutrition for better bone health Tips for taking bisphosphonates Cutting back alcohol Weight-bearing exercise for healthy bones Break for Nurse and Physician Time Check vital signs Discuss BMD results Refills Private exam Q&A and Follow- up Appointment Planning

What Other Patients Are Saying About Shared Visits  “I like this type of visit because I get to hear other patients’ questions”  “It was calming to know that there are other people out there with the same problem I have”  “I liked the fact that I did not have to wait that long for an appointment, and I learned a lot while I was there”  “This was a very professional team and a very informative appointment”

The Benefits of Shared Visits: A Recap  Longer appointments in a private, less formal setting with other patients who bring up questions you may not have thought to ask or may be uncomfortable asking  You get private time with your doctor and shared time during the same appointment; in some cases, you can have tests done and can get results right away, saving you another trip to the office  Every part of the shared visit is set up to give you as much time as possible with your doctor

Questions & Answers