Group Medical Visits

Group Medical Visits (GMVs) are a strategy to deliver efficient, quality health care to groups of patients with similar health needs. By organizing care differently to optimize the time spent by providers and patients, evidence suggests GMVs lead to high patient and provider satisfaction and increase access to care. Implementing GMVs are an exciting opportunity to provide care differently, support the development of self-management skills and offer an innovative option for caring for patients with ongoing health conditions.

Tools, resources and educational videos aimed at supporting you and your team to plan and deliver Group Medical Visits, in-person or virtually, are available below. Additional learning opportunities and supports are coming soon. Contact a Primary Health Care leader in your area if you are interested in more information.

The following videos showcase Nova Scotia primary health care teams that are utilizing Group Medical Visits to connect patients with better care:

• Weymouth Medical Centre
• Hants Health and Wellness Team
• Integrated Chronic Care Service

Nova Scotia Health Primary Health Care teams were awarded a 3M Health Care Quality Team Award in 2018 for their use of Group Medical Visits to support access to care. Learn more in this video:

• "Getting the care I need, when I need it": Group visits empower changes in priority areas across Primary Health Care system

Tools and Resources:

• Group Medical Visits in Primary Health Care Implementation Guide (16 pages): A comprehensive guide to support primary health care providers and teams to implement Group Medical Visits.
• Summary Overview for GPs/NPs (3 pages): A summary document providing an overview of key Group Medical Visit concepts for sharing with interested family physicians and nurse practitioners.
• Adapting to Virtual Group Medical Visits (2 pages): Considerations for adapting from in-person to virtual GMVs derived from the early experiences of Primary Health Care teams in Nova Scotia.

Tools to help you plan and implement GMVs:

• Classic Models of GMVs
• Planning Worksheet
  • Sample Planning Worksheet - Metabolic Syndrome GMV
  • Sample Planning Worksheet - Virtual Diabetes GMV for Unattached Patients
• Early Logistics Planning Guide
• Sample Preparation Timeline
• Example Confidentiality Agreement and Informed Consent
• Sample Agenda Plan
• Sample Patient Invitation Letter
• Sample Telephone Invitation Script
• Facilitator Introduction Sample Script
• Example Group Guidelines
• Example Equipment / Resource List
• Patient Satisfaction Survey
• Provider Satisfaction Survey
• Sample Measurement Tools

Additional supporting documents:

• Facilitator Responsibilities
• Facilitation Tips and Tricks
• Common Myths and Concerns about GMVs
• Further Reading & References

GMV Video Links:

The following video series has been developed by Alberta’s Accelerating Change Transformation Team (formerly Toward Optimized Practice) to support healthcare teams learn about and implement Group Medical Visits:

• Who participates in GMVs? (1:51)
• Why offer GMVs? (1:29)
• Challenges of GMVs (2:37)
• Teacher or facilitator? (1:58)
• How to run a GMV (3:26)
• Benefits of GMVs (5:26)
• Advice on GMVs (2:44)
• How to engage physicians (1:05)

This video produced by Impact BC describes three models of GMVs:

• Creating Opportunities for GMVs (9:12)