Impact of Shared Medical Appointment among Persons with Diabetes

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the impact of shared medical appointments on diabetes outcomes. In addition, we hoped to identify patient characteristics that may facilitate greater improvement in A1c through management via shared medical appointments by exploring previous mode of diabetes management, mental health utilization, and service connection status. Methods: The study was a retrospective chart review of electronic health records of patients involved in a diabetes-focused shared medical appointment clinic from July 1, 2011 through December 31, 2015. Diabetes outcome measures (A1c, weight) were collected prior to enrollment in the clinic and up to 3 years after enrollment to determine impact of SMA on disease management. Data regarding service connection status and mental health enrollment was collected as a tool in hopes to characterize the types of patients best benefitting from SMA's. Results: A total of 71 patients were included in this study. Mean A1c of our study cohort decreased at years 1, 2, and 3 from original A1c at baseline. Weight did not change greatly over the three years. The decrease in A1c from baseline at years 1 and 3 (pvalue = 0.003 and 0.037, respectively) was statistically significant. The other secondary variables studied did not show any correlation. Conclusions: A shared medical appointment is an effective means to diabetes management, resulting in significant decrease in A1c that persists over time. Certain patients may specifically benefit from management in this way, although the specific characteristics of those individuals have not been identified.