By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    An Expert’s Guide To Building and Improving Endurance
    June 30, 2022
    medical assistants
    What Do Medical Assistants Do On a Day to Day Basis?
    April 5, 2022
    superfoods to help with prostate health
    10 Healthy Foods That Can Help Protect Your Prostate
    August 29, 2022
    Latest News
    Why Custom Telemedicine Apps Outperform Off‑the‑Shelf Solutions
    July 20, 2025
    How Probate Planning Shapes the Future of Your Estate and Family Care
    July 17, 2025
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
    The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Magnesium Supplements
    June 11, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    How Powerful Patients Save the System Money
    November 11, 2015
    How Financial Barriers are Slowing Down Telehealth Adoption
    September 26, 2017
    No Resource Constraints in Dialysis: a Blessing and a Curse
    May 4, 2011
    Latest News
    How IT and Marketing Teams Can Collaborate to Protect Patient Trust
    July 17, 2025
    How Health Choices and Legal Actions Intersect After an Injury
    July 17, 2025
    How communities and healthcare providers can address slip and fall injuries with legal awareness
    July 17, 2025
    Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
    July 6, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Seeing Patients by the Dozen: Group Appointments Are Increasing
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Policy & Law > Health Reform > Seeing Patients by the Dozen: Group Appointments Are Increasing
Health ReformHospital AdministrationPolicy & Law

Seeing Patients by the Dozen: Group Appointments Are Increasing

Stewart Gandolf
Stewart Gandolf
Share
4 Min Read
group appointments
SHARE

group appointmentsThe concept of shared medical appointments (one doc seeing several patients) isn’t well known or widely available…yet. That seems to be changing.

The pressures of “more patients” and “fewer doctors” (among other things) are straining the nation’s healthcare delivery system, but it’s fueling innovative approaches that save time, reduce cost, and improve access, outcomes and satisfaction.

group appointmentsThe concept of shared medical appointments (one doc seeing several patients) isn’t well known or widely available…yet. That seems to be changing.

The pressures of “more patients” and “fewer doctors” (among other things) are straining the nation’s healthcare delivery system, but it’s fueling innovative approaches that save time, reduce cost, and improve access, outcomes and satisfaction.

More Read

OTC Drugs Should Qualify as Medical Expense for Tax Purposes
Weighing Up the Advantages and Disadvantages of Nursing Homes
5 Effective Ways to Market Healthcare to Millennials
Why You Should Have a Good Relationship With Your Primary Care Doctor
Teens Seek Sex Ed Online.

There’s a growing marketing and advertising opportunity for hospitals and group medical practices that offer the option of appointments in groups of a dozen or so patients. It’s appropriate in some—but not all—circumstances, but it may help both patients and providers.

As one illustration, several Cleveland Clinic departments offer shared medical appointments (SMA) for patients with common needs. The typical 90-minute session is with one or more healthcare providers. (Cleveland Clinic piloted SMAs more than a decade ago.) Although the patient-provider time is not one-on-one, patients say they appreciate the greater access and longer time with the medical team.

Who benefits from Shared Medical Appointments?

The Cleveland Clinic model says that the group approach may be suitable for:

  • Patients needing routine follow up care maybe due to chronic conditions
  • Patients seeking more information regarding their specific health issues
  • Patients who require mind and body care; these are typically patients who require additional time with their physician.

But they also say the program is NOT intended to:

  • Replace your regular individual visits with your physician
  • Be used as a one-time consultation
  • Treat urgent medical concerns that should be addressed by a specialist immediately
  • Diagnose and treat complex medical care

Group programs vary among facilities, but generally appointments are offered as an option for patients with a common medical concern, such as diabetes or heart disease. Participants sign confidentiality agreements, and sessions include doctor-lead discussions.

What’s more, the Los Angeles Times reports, “Physicians like not having to repeat themselves several times a day to people with the same ailments. Research shows that for certain patients, group visits can reinforce healthy behaviors and reduce emergency room visits.”

In addition to Cleveland Clinic, group appointments are available at a growing number of medical facilities in the US. Other examples include, UC San Diego, LA County outpatient and specialty clinic, Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates (Atrius Health), Palo Alto Medical Foundation (Sutter Health), as well as programs in M Massachusetts, North Carolina and Ohio.

Although the shared appointment model is not widely promoted or universally accepted, it represents a marketing opportunity, and a unique approach that is supported by the American Academy of Family Physicians and the California Association of Physician Groups.

Let us know your thoughts and experience. Also see: Futurist Views: Healthcare Reform at the Tipping Point and Healthcare Innovation: How The Big Guys Make Big Ideas Happen (and Why).

TAGGED:healthcare delivery
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

holistic dental
Holistic Dentist Services Are Natural and Safe
Dental health Specialties
July 28, 2025
botox certification
Help Improve People’s Skin Health Via Botox Certification
Skin Specialties
July 22, 2025
Telemedicine Apps
Why Custom Telemedicine Apps Outperform Off‑the‑Shelf Solutions
Health
July 20, 2025
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
How IT and Marketing Teams Can Collaborate to Protect Patient Trust
Global Healthcare Policy & Law
July 17, 2025

You Might also Like

Incorporating Patient Reported Outcomes in Post-Surgery Evaluation

October 27, 2014
ListenLogic Health Patient Journey
eHealthMedical DevicesMedical EducationSocial MediaTechnologyWellness

Using Advanced Social Intelligence to Understand the Patient Journey

March 30, 2015
hospital administration
BusinessFinanceHospital Administration

Why Newly Hired Physicians Lose Money for Hospitals (and Need Marketing)

June 6, 2013
NewsPublic Health

Exercise and Sleep Quality

March 11, 2012
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?