Diabetes Group Visits: An Alternative to Managing Chronic Disease Outcomes

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease with an ever-expanding prevalence and financial burden for our health care system. Because patients with diabetes often require similar education and disease management, group visits or shared medical appointments have been piloted as an alternative to standard office visits. This article reviews the evidence from clinical trials involving the group visit model. Specific outcomes measured include the evaluation of diabetes care standards, associated costs, overall blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin levels, and patient satisfaction scores. Implications for nurse practitioners are highlighted, with emphasis on best practices in the era of health care reform.