Team Clinic: An Innovative Group Care Model for Youth With Type 1 Diabetes-Engaging Patients and Meeting Educational Needs

- Management of diabetes during adolescence is a major medical challenge
- Group visits provide an efficient avenue for on-going diabetes support and education
- Team Clinic, a group visit model, provides an opportunity for adolescent peer support during routine clinic appointments.
- Team Clinic resulted in high patient and staff satisfaction

The purpose of this pilot was to implement an innovative group care model, “Team Clinic,” for adolescents with type 1 diabetes and assess patient and provider perspectives. Ninety-one intervention patients and 87 controls were enrolled. Ninety-six percent of intervention adolescents endorsed increased support and perceived connecting with peers as important. The medical providers and staff also provided positive feedback stating Team Clinic allowed for more creativity in education and a higher quality of care. Team Clinic may be a promising model to engage adolescents and incorporate education and support into clinic visits in a format valued by patients and providers.