title: Incorporating Group Medical Visits into Primary Healthcare: Are There Benefits?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Group medical visits (GMVs) have been touted as an innovation to effectively and efficiently provide primary healthcare (PHC) services. The purpose of this paper is to report whether GMVs have tangible benefits for providers and patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  This descriptive study included in-depth interviews with patients attending and providers facilitating GMVs and direct observation. Five primary care practices in rural towns and four First Nations communities participated. This paper reports on an analysis of interviews and observations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-four providers and 29 patients were interviewed. Patient participants were an average of 62 years old, mostly female and married. The three most common chronic conditions reported by patients were diabetes (n = 9), high blood pressure (n = 8) and arthritis (n = 7). Three themes illustrated how GMVs: (1) can foster access to needed health services; (2) expand opportunities for collaboration and team-based care; and (3) improve patient and provider experiences. A fourth theme captured structural challenges in delivering GMVs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There are tangible benefits in delivering GMVs in PHC. While whole patient panels can benefit from the integration of GMVs into practice, those who could gain the most are patients with complex medical and social needs. GMVs provide an opportunity to enhance PHC, strengthening the system particularly for patients with chronic conditions.
authors.affiliation: Professor, Centre for Health Services and Policy Research, and School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC.
authors.forename: Sabrina T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Professor, University of British Columbia School of Nursing, Vancouver, BC.
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Browne
authors.affiliation: Director, Manitoba First Nations - Centre for Aboriginal Health Research, Community Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB.
authors.forename: Josée
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lavoie
authors.affiliation: Professor and Chair, University of Northern British Columbia School of Nursing, Prince George, BC.
authors.forename: Martha L P
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Macleod
authors.affiliation: Sessional Instructor, University of Northern British Columbia School of Nursing, Prince George, BC.
authors.forename: Meck
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chongo
authors.affiliation: President and CEO, Northern Health Authority, Prince George, BC.
authors.forename: Cathy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ulrich
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001955:British Columbia; D002170:Canada; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006126:Group Processes; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology; D006303:Health Services, Indigenous / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012424:Rural Population; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires