Patients like group appointments because it gives them a chance to meet and share with others, Woodcock says. Patients share a specific diagnosis. However, patients may drop in to the group at any time. The appointments are ideal for patients with chronic diseases that demand a lot of self-management, such as diabetes.
Sessions offer an opportunity to educate patients and do simple check-ups.
Usually, several providers help at each session. The ideal person for this facilitator role needs strong interpersonal skills and experience working with large groups, allowing physicians to concentrate on diagnosing specific clinical problems, modifying medication schedules, and other medical decision making. In this setting, the behavioralist must be a time manager and literally butt in to the conversation, which isn't what their training teaches them. Applicable co-pays should be collected, and patients should be instructed to call in a cancellation if they cannot attend. Today, most health plans do not offer coding options for group appointments, so practices must develop strategies to receive payment.