In July, CTV News ran two pieces on group medical visits, a new approach some BC doctors are using to tend to the needs of groups of patients with similar chronic conditions, such as diabetes or hypertension.

Dr Dan MacCarthy, BCMA Director of Professional Relations, spoke to CTV News about the benefits to both patients and physicians of group medical visits, an initiative of the GPSC’s Practice Support Program (PSP).

Group medical visits offer a time-efficient way of caring for patients who share a specific condition. Patients with a similar chronic condition are invited to attend these sessions to receive care, education, and advice within a supportive group environment.

Part of a suite of practice management initiatives designed to improve primary care in BC, including innovations in advanced access, chronic disease management, and patient self-management, group medical visits have been well-received by patients, and physician and patient uptake is on the rise.

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Richmond family physician Dr Jack Kliman spoke to CTV News about the two-hour group sessions he invites his patients to attend once a month.

He holds a number of group medical visits, each focusing on an individual condition, including high blood pressure, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease.

The group visits include anywhere from four to 15 patients at a time and two nurses also take part. While family members are allowed to attend the group visits, everyone is asked to agree to keep what they hear at the meetings confidential.

His patients enjoy these group visits that allow them to listen and learn from other patients with similar conditions, to share ideas about managing their conditions, and provide more time to ask questions.

For more information on group medical visits and the Practice Support Program’s Group Medical Visits learning module, visit www.gpscbc.ca/psp-learning/module-overview/group-medical-visits.

Click here for the full story: www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Health/20100708/grou-medical-visits-100708/

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In April, the Surrey NOW ran a piece on group medical visits.

Dr. Yue Lucy Wang, Surrey family practitioner, spoke to the Surrey NOW about setting up group medical visits and the improvement in conditions for patients who participate. Dr. Wang runs prenatal group visits as well as for patients with diabetes and cardiovascular risk and teaches other physicians to set up their own group visits.

An initiative of the General Practice Services Committee, group medical visits “has been proven to be considered a more time-efficient way to care for patients with the same condition, reducing doctors’ backlog while bettering patients’ outcomes.”

Click here for the article: www.thenownewspaper.com/Group+visits+just+what+doctor+ordered/2876068/story.html