Shared medical appointments — when physicians see about a dozen patients at once — though still uncommon, are starting to catch on, according to Bloomberg Business.
The American Academy of Family Physicians found roughly 10 percent of family physicians offer group appointments, according the report. Internist Marianne Sumego, MD, told Bloomberg that Cleveland Clinic has conducted about 10,000 group appointments in the last couple years.
The idea is not new: Kaiser Permanente psychologist Edward Noffsinger, PhD, is credited with developing the group visit model in the 1990s, a model which allows groups of 12 or more patients with similar conditions to discuss their symptoms together with a physician for about 90 minutes. Patients must sign privacy agreements prior to the visit and exams and tests are still private.
Research in the report suggests the visits are most effective for patients with chronic conditions like arthritis, back pain and diabetes.
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