The Boston Globe on Sunday examined "shared medical appointments," a practice in which a physician sees a group of patients at one time. According to the Globe, "Many patients, it turns out, are willing to sacrifice privacy and modesty for improved access to doctors." The Globe reports that patients who are willing to visit physicians in a group setting typically can get appointments sooner, and "many patients have similar problems and questions, and can learn from one another in the group visits." Physicians also can "make out better financially" because many insurers generally pay physicians at the same rate as they would to see patients individually, according to the Globe.

The Globe profiled physician Gene Lindsey, CEO of Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates, who since July has been seeing patients only in shared medical appointments. The move is part of a plan by Harvard Vanguard to "ease physician shortages, and reduce patient and doctor dissatisfaction over constantly feeling rushed during appointments," the Globe reports. At Harvard Vanguard, patients sign consent forms for the doctor to discuss their medical history openly before participating and a confidentiality form pledging not to discuss what they learn about other participants' health from the sessions. The practice also has a private room available in the event a patient needs to disrobe and the doctor is available to patients after the group meeting for more personal concerns.

A survey conducted by the provider group found that this year, 77% of patients who participated in a shared appointment once said they would do so again, 15% said they were not sure and 5% said they would not do it again. By the end of next year, Harvard Vanguard plans to offer shared appointments with at least 50 doctors and nurse practitioners, which would make it the largest such practice in the nation, according to the provider group (Kowalczyk, Boston Globe, 11/30).

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