ATRIUS HEALTH AWARDED MAYORAL PRIZE FOR INNOVATIONS IN PRIMARY CARE
Harvard Vanguard Shared Medical Appointment program
honored by Mayor Menino for groundbreaking work

Boston, MA - November 2010 - Mayor Thomas Menino and the Boston Public Health Commission recently marked the end of National Primary Care Week today by bestowing the 2010 Mayoral Prize for Innovations in Primary Care.  Atrius Health affiliate Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates was honored for its Shared Medical Appointment (SMA) program, an innovative model of care delivery that is being used to address the healthcare needs of their diverse patient population.

“I am pleased to recognize with these awards the groundbreaking work being undertaken in Boston to improve primary care,” Mayor Menino said. “This innovative effort is an inspiration to all of us, and represents the kind of creative thinking that will be required to transform primary care medicine.”

Harvard Vanguard has one of the largest programs of shared medical appointments in the U.S. with nearly 9000 patient encounters in a group visit since the inception of the program in 2007.   Harvard Vanguard has over 50 on-going shared medical appointment visits being deployed in 13 specialties including primary care. 

 “Offering shared appointments as an option is one of the ways we are working to improve the timeliness, access and quality of care for our patients,” said Dr. Gene Lindsey, President and CEO of Atrius Health. “For many patients, the traditional 15-minute doctor visit is not enough and group appointments provide the one-on-one time along with the health education and support many need.” 

A shared medical appointment is a 90 minute group patient visit in which 8 to 12 patients experience a medical visit together with their own primary care provider or specialist, supported by a multidisciplinary care team.  In this setting, patients have more time with their physicians and the help and support of other patients who may be dealing with similar issues. Physicians can take more time to focus on health education, prevention, and chronic disease management during the appointment and private exams and discussions are available as needed.  Participants leave with a plan of care for needed vaccinations, tests, and follow-up visits, and a sense they are working as part of a team to improve their   health.

"Over 80% of our patients who experience a shared medical appointment report that they would return for a second group visit and would recommend it highly to their friends and family" said Dr.  Zeev Neuwirth, Chief of Clinical Effectiveness & Innovation .  "This is an approach that delivers high quality care and works very effectively for patients with a broad range of medical conditions.  Given the worsening shortage of physicians, this is a model whose time has come."

Mayor Menino established the Mayoral Prize for Innovations in Primary Care last year based upon the recommendation of the Mayor’s Task Force on Improving Access to Primary Care in Boston. He convened the task force in February 2008, charging it with evaluating the current state of care in Boston and ensuring that all residents have access to affordable, high quality primary care services. One of the task force’s recommendations was the creation of the Mayoral Prize to recognize promising practices in the field.

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