Enhance your care experience
Shared medical visits are appointments where a doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant meets with a small group of patients who share the same established health condition. Each patient receives personalized medical care and guidance directly from their provider, which is focused on their specific needs. In this shared setting, you can listen, observe and learn from discussions that may be relevant to your own care.
Note: To ensure continuity of care, shared medical visits are currently offered to established primary care patients only.
Why patients choose shared medical visits
Shared medical visits may be 45 to 90 minutes long, giving you more time, support and perspective than a standard appointment.
- More time with your doctor
Shared visits are usually longer than individual appointments, giving more time to ask questions, understand your condition and explore treatment options. - Shared learning. Personal care
Shared medical visits focus on your care and provide a confidential space to learn from others with similar symptoms or diagnoses.
- A deeper understanding of your condition
Doctors have time to explain symptoms, medications, lifestyle changes and next steps in greater detail. - Complements your routine appointments
Shared medical visits don’t replace your individual routine visit. They are sessions that provide more time to understand your condition.
Your questions, answered
Each shared medical visit may be 45 to 90 minutes.
Both options may be available. If you attend virtually, you’ll receive log-in instructions through MyChart.
In addition to you and your provider, groups usually include 6-10 patients, approximately.
Yes. Shared visits always include a one-on-one, individual interaction to address your specific concerns. The provider can prescribe medications, refill prescriptions and order labs or tests as needed.
All participants sign a confidentiality agreement to help ensure a private, respectful environment. For added confidentiality, you can change your display name before joining.
No. Shared medical visits complement – not replace – your individual appointments. You will still have your regularly scheduled annual visit with your primary care provider, even if your shared medical visit is conducted by a different doctor.
Most insurance plans cover shared medical visits. They are billed as an individual patient visit.
No. Shared medical visits are offered for select conditions including dementia, diabetes, cholesterol management, hypertension, osteoporosis and weight loss, and others. To ensure continuity of care, shared medical visits are currently offered to established primary care patients only. Your doctor can help determine if one is right for you.
Eligibility is determined by your primary care doctor. If a shared visit is appropriate, they will coordinate scheduling.
Take the first step
Talk to your primary care doctor to see if a shared medical visit is right for you.