For Immediate Release
Cheyenne, Wyoming
May 08, 2007

Innovative Group Visits a New Way for Providers to Improve Health Outcomes Throughout Wyoming

Healthy Together! Health Management Program Organizing Group Visits

Group Visits for clients, an innovative program which allows physicians and other healthcare providers to treat multiple patients who have the same diagnosis during a group gathering, will be the topic of one of the educational programs offered this spring at the Wyoming Medical Society’s Annual Meeting on June 7th.

“The greatest benefit of the Group Visits is that both providers and patients seem to be more satisfied with the healthcare given and received,” says Brent Sherard, M.D., Wyoming Department of Health Director and State Health Officer.

“Patients gain support from working with others diagnosed with the same health problems. Providers, in turn, get to spend more time educating their patients and collaborating with other healthcare professionals in this group setting. According to research, it results in improved clinical outcomes,” Sherard concludes.

The Group Visit format offers strategies for providers to see and treat up to 20 patients during a 2-3 hour extended appointment.  The patient attends a group meeting with their doctor and members of the care team (health or diabetic educator, nutritionist, counselor) to discuss educational, social and psychological concerns, as well as nutritional and activity guidelines.  Following the Group Visit, each patient meets briefly with their physician, PA or nurse practitioner for a one-on-one session.  Biometric and lab screenings can be completed prior to or during the Group Visit to determine client goals for a healthier more productive lifestyle.

David Graham, M.D., an assistant professor at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, will present a session on the Group Visit model for Continuing Medical Education credit at the Wyoming Medical Society’s meeting Thursday morning, June 7, at 9:30 at Jackson Lake Lodge. Though he cares for patients of all ages, Dr. Graham’s primary clinical interests and advanced experience are in obstetrics, women’s health, pediatric care and home care. Dr. Graham also has strong interests in quality improvement, information technology and systems management.

Marion Smith, M.D.—a Family Practitioner in Torrington, Wyoming—will follow Dr. Graham, speaking about her practice’s experience using the Group Visits format.  Dr. Smith says that she was interested in hosting a Group Visit because of the dramatic results it can produce for patients. She noted that in one study of patients with diabetes, HbA1c levels were lower in patients seen in a group setting than those control subjects seen during individual appointments.  HDL (good cholesterol) levels were also high for patients in groups while their BMI and fasting triglycerides were lower. 

Dr. Smith adds, “Beyond the successes experienced by both patients and providers, research shows Group Visits benefit patients by decreasing their emergency department and hospital use, delaying their entry into nursing facilities, and decreasing their visits to sub-specialists as well as increasing their total visits to primary care.”

Other proponents of the Group Visit support the concept for a variety of reasons. For example, Group Visits offer clinical staff more satisfying interactions with patients resulting from efficient use of resources while patients gain improved health outcomes, access and motivation for behavior change.

APS Healthcare offers information on the Group Visit concept and assistance with facilitation of Group Visits. Please contact Michelle Crist at 307-433-0970 for further information.

Healthy Together! is offered by the Wyoming Department of Health to all Wyoming EqualityCare clients.  The program provides clients with one-on-one support from a nurse Health Coach, educational materials to encourage the self-management of their health and assistance in coordinating their care among multiple providers at no cost. Healthy Together! also provides EqualityCare clients with information on weight loss, smoking cessation and how to adopt healthy lifestyles. Healthy Together! was named the Best Government Disease Management Program by the Disease Management Association of America in 2005.