The most significant effect observed is with the change from baseline results .
Some evidence suggests post-intervention and change from baseline systolic blood pressure improvement at the nine to twelve month interval and change from baseline improvement at the 4 year timeframe .
There is no evidence that group visits improve LDL cholesterol values of the group visit participants .
IMPLICATION S FOR PRACTICE The evidence suggests that the most powerful model of Group medical visits ( GMV ) is when a clinician prescriber is present during or immediately after GMV sessions for medication reconciliation or individual patient needs .
BACKGROUND The prevalence of diabetes mellitus is ubiquitous .
Complications and costs of diabetes are rising and are depleting limited re sources .
It is imperative for healthcare professionals and patients alike to confront this chronic condition by exploring new interventions .
An innovative health care delivery model has emerged in the last 25 years in the form of the group medical visit .
Group medical visits can range from of six to twenty patients scheduled together with time allotted for individual care as well as in the group setting .
Pharmacist-Led Group Medical Appointment Model in Type 2 Diabetes
Purpose The purpose of this study was to assess whether the VA-MEDIC ( Veterans Affairs Multi-disciplinary Education and Diabetes Intervention for Cardiac risk reduction ) , a pharmacist-led group medical visit program , could improve achievement of target goals in hypertension , hyperglycemia , hyperlipidemia , and tobacco use in patients with type 2 diabetes compared to usual care . Methods This was a r and omized controlled trial of VA-MEDIC intervention in addition to usual care versus usual care alone in diabetic patients to reduce cardiac risk factors . VA-MEDIC consisted of a 40- to 60-minute educational component by nurse , nutritionist , physical therapist , or pharmacist followed by pharmacist-led behavioral and pharmacological interventions over 4 weekly sessions . Measures The attainment of target goals in hemoglobin A1C ( A1C ) , blood pressure , fasting lipids , and tobacco use recommended by the American Diabetes Association . Results Of 118 participants , 109 completed the study . VA-MEDIC ( n = 58 ) participants were younger and had greater tobacco use at baseline than usual care but were similar in other cardiovascular risk factors . After 4 months , a greater proportion of VA-MEDIC participants versus controls achieved an A1C of less than 7 % and a systolic blood pressure less than 130 mm Hg . No significant change was found in lipid control or tobacco use between the 2 study arms . Conclusion Pharmacist-led group medical visits are feasible and efficacious for improving cardiac risk factors
The most significant effect observed is with the change from baseline results .
Some evidence suggests post-intervention and change from baseline systolic blood pressure improvement at the nine to twelve month interval and change from baseline improvement at the 4 year timeframe .
There is no evidence that group visits improve LDL cholesterol values of the group visit participants .
IMPLICATION S FOR PRACTICE The evidence suggests that the most powerful model of Group medical visits ( GMV ) is when a clinician prescriber is present during or immediately after GMV sessions for medication reconciliation or individual patient needs .
BACKGROUND The prevalence of diabetes mellitus is ubiquitous .
Complications and costs of diabetes are rising and are depleting limited re sources .
It is imperative for healthcare professionals and patients alike to confront this chronic condition by exploring new interventions .
An innovative health care delivery model has emerged in the last 25 years in the form of the group medical visit .
Group medical visits can range from of six to twenty patients scheduled together with time allotted for individual care as well as in the group setting .