Group (GMA) or shared medical
appointments (SMA) seem to have taken on a life of their own in the
last few years. I have been involved with two doctors that have
asked me about SMAs and they both were surprised that a lay person
(patient) would be promoting them. I have put both in contact with
the doctors that have trained their own peer mentors to help them and
received their thanks.
Now I am beginning to see some research on group medical appointments. I see little difference between them
and they can vary by how a doctor wants to call them.
Medical management delivered via group
medical appointments appears to be effective for glycemic control in
patients with type 2 diabetes, according to research published in
Diabetes Spectrum. It is a shame that this research has to be behind
a pay wall, but at least I can use this to give to doctors that ask
questions.
Cora A. Caballero, NP, from Loma Linda
Healthcare System in California, and colleagues conducted an
electronic chart review comparing group medical appointments care for
52 male patients with usual primary care for 52 male patients, all
with type 2 diabetes. Demographic and health-related variables were
analyzed.
The researchers found that the target
HbA1c goals were reached by a greater proportion of group medical
appointment patients (50%) than usual primary care patients (19.2%).
The rate of decline of HbA1c over time was significantly faster for
group medical appointment participants vs usual primary care
participants.
"This study demonstrated that
the concept of medical management delivered in a group approach had a
positive effect on glycemic control in patients with type 2
diabetes," the researchers wrote. "GMAs were found
to be an effective approach to achieving patient-centered goals for
improving the glycemic control of patients with type 2 diabetes."
No mention is made about secrecy and
any problems encountered. I think this is great and hopefully opens
the door to more GMAs or SMAs.
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