Do diabetes group visits lead to lower medical care charges?

Objective: To evaluate whether attending diabetes group visits (GVs) leads to lower medical care charges for inadequately insured patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM).

Study Design: Randomized controlled clinical trial.

Methods: Data were abstracted from financial records for 186 patients with uncontrolled type 2 DM randomized to receive care in GVs or usual care for 12 months.

Group visits: promoting adherence to diabetes guidelines.

Background: Current diabetes management guidelines offer blueprints for providers, yet type 2 diabetes control is often poor in disadvantaged populations. The group visit is a new treatment modality originating in managed care for efficient service delivery to patients with chronic health problems. Group visits offer promise for delivering care to diabetic patients, as visits are lengthier and can be more frequent, more organized, and more educational.

Further evaluating the acceptability of group visits in an uninsured or inadequately insured patient population with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes.

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to evaluate perceptions of care delivered through group visits to disadvantaged patients with type 2 diabetes.

Methods: One hundred eighty-six patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes were randomly assigned to receive care in group visits or usual care for 12 months. Their perceptions of the care they received were measured at baseline and 6 and 12 months by the Primary Care Assessment Tool (PCAT), the Diabetes-Specific Locus of Control (DLC) survey, and the Trust in Physician Scale (TPS).

Evaluating concordance to American Diabetes Association standards of care for type 2 diabetes through group visits in an uninsured or inadequately insured patient population.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a managed care approach to health care delivery, group visits, in the management of uninsured or inadequately insured patients with type 2 diabetes.

Research Design And Methods: A total of 120 patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes were randomly assigned to receive their care in group visits or usual care for 6 months. After 6 months, concordance with 10 process-of-care indicators recommended by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) standards of care was evaluated through chart abstraction.

Evaluating group visits in an uninsured or inadequately insured patient population with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes.

Purpose: This study was conducted to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a managed-care approach (group visits) on delivering care to uninsured or inadequately insured patients with type 2 diabetes.

Methods: One hundred twenty patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes were randomly assigned to receive care in group visits or usual care for 6 months. At baseline, 3 months, and 6 months, the feasibility and acceptability of this model of healthcare delivery were assessed through the patients' responses to the Primary Care Assessment Tool and the Trust in Physician Scale.