UVM Integrative Lecture Series: “Integrated Primary Care for the Underserved”
Lecture Type: Online Video (Link Here)
Time: 61 minutes 29 seconds
Date: March 29, 2021
Speakers: Jeffrey Geller, M.D.
Topic: Primary Care for the Underserved
Introduction
Dr. Jeffery Geller presents a lecture through the UVM Integrative Health Care Series on how to create an integrated primary care model using group medical visits for underserved populations. Dr. Geller is the Director of Integrative Medicine for Kronos Health and President of the Integrated Center for Group Medical Visits. Below are links to each respective organization:
https://www.kronoshealth.com/
https://icgmv.org/
This lecture was hosted on Zoom and posted to YouTube.
You can view the lecture directly by clicking the link here.
Group Medical Visits
One of the challenges in healthcare today is the amount time that doctors have for quality patient-physician interaction. Some physicians only have 5 minutes to listen to a patient’s story and provide medical recommendations, patient education, and emotional support. Dr. Geller reports that group medical visits can be one solution to this problem.
In a group medical visit, healthcare workers can dedicate an hour or more to a group ranging from 40 to 100 patients. During this time, a greater amount of patient education can be communicated, such as training in mental health techniques like mindfulness or learning to cook healthier meal options. It also creates a space to develop peer-support structures across social barriers and allows physicians to check-in more often with their patients on a consistent weekly or monthly basis. Group medical visits can also be offered in-person or virtually, which provides options that increases access for those who either do not have the technology or transportation to join. Finally, these groups also empower patients through developing skills and relationships that can support their personal health journeys.
These benefits above are not an exclusive list of what patients and physicians can gain from a group medical visit model. Below is a diagram taken from Dr. Geller’s lecture on how group medical visits address health from a biopsychosocial model of care.
Programming
Group medical visits can be created to meet the needs of each patient population. Dr. Geller goes into depth about the different types of care provided for different groups in his medical practice. He also details a basic outline of how these can be administered.
Dr. Geller, at the time of this lecture, had 24 different groups running at his health center. These groups included:
- Acupuncture
- Massage/Osteopathic Manipulation
- Yoga
- Suboxone (Opioid Addiction Group)
- Smoking Cessation
- Obesity
- Insomnia
If you currently work in healthcare, or are aspire to, you can also adapt group medical visits to provide exercise counseling and training, work with patients with chronic pain, and much much more!
Format
For a typical group, Dr. Geller explains how each program can be developed and offered to participants.
First, there is a group check-in with each participant. This is a time for ice breakers and for group members to get to know one-another. Depending on the number of participants, this can take 5 to 60 minutes.
Second, there is a group activity. This is where medical or therapeutic education or care can be performed, such as a group exercise activity. This can take 30 to 60 minutes.
Third, during the group activity the physician will pull out individuals for a medical encounter. These encounters are quick, such as to update lab work, change medications, or be seen for a particular medical issue. Typically, six patients can be seen per hour in this time.
This allows billing to be integrated into these visits. Fourth, there is a group closure in which members are tasked with a project or homework.
That is the basics of how Dr. Geller structures group visits!
Learning to Administer Group Visits
Dr. Geller is President of the Integrated Center for Group Medical Visits. This organization provides training on how to facilitate group medical visits. You can access educational material here:
https://icgmv.org/trainings
There are two options. You can attend live trainings, or you can opt for a self-study module. The self-study module seems to be three days’ worth of material for $50.00. You can find this by scrolling down on the page of the link above or clicking the link below:
https://events.eventzilla.net/e/virtual-gmvs–recorded-session-for-self-study-2138819829
I have no affiliations to declare and do not receive any financial gain by referring to the above trainings.
Concluding Thoughts
Dr. Geller provides information on how group medical visits can be used to improve health outcomes and access to quality healthcare in an integrated primary care setting for underserved populations. He explains how these can be organized and the types of groups that can be developed.
You can view the lecture directly by clicking the link here.
Citation
Geller, J. (2021, March 29). Integrated Primary Care for the Underserved. [Lecture Recording]. University of Vermont Laura Mann Integrative Health Care Lecture Series. https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=1&v=9vvc3wV0vbw&feature=youtu.be
Disclaimer
This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of medical advice or treatment from a personal physician. All viewers of this content are advised to consult their doctors or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. The publisher of this content does not take responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information in this educational content. All viewers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement, exercise or other lifestyle program.