--- title: "Challenges to adoption of shared medical appts. | Sutter Health" description: "A physician champion, management support, and financial sustainability were judged to be the primary enablers of successful implementations of shared med appts." url: "https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/challenges-to-adoption-of-shared-medical-appts-1055312762" --- 1. [Home](https://www.sutterhealth.org/) / 2. [Research](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research) / 3. [Research publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications) / 4. Challenges to adoption of shared medical appts. # Overcoming challenges to adoption of shared medical appointments. McCuistion MH, Stults CD, Dohan D, Frosch DL, Hung DY, & Tai-Seale M. _Popul Health Manag. 17(2):100-5. doi: 10.1089/pop.2013.0035. Epub 2013 Oct 24._ 2014-04-01 ## Abstract Although research has shown many benefits of Shared Medical Appointments (SMAs) or group visits, uptake by physicians has been quite limited. The objective of this study was to explore the facilitators and barriers to implementing SMAs in a large multispecialty medical group. This was a comparative analysis of SMAs at 3 geographically distinct, semiautonomous divisions of the medical group based on qualitative themes identified in audio recorded key informant interviews with medical and administrative staff (n=12) involved with the implementation of SMAs. Data were collected by conducting key informant interviews focusing on the SMA implementation process, including motivations, history, barriers, and facilitators. Uptake at the 3 divisions was predicated by differing motivations, facilitators, and barriers. Divisions 1 and 2 allocated necessary resources including management support, a physician champion, expert consults, and support staff. These divisions also overcame physician reluctance and financial sustainability challenges. Despite early interest, Division 3 did not devote the time or resources to overcome initial resistance. Without the impetus of management mandate or a champion's enthusiasm, early attempts of SMA implementation faltered and were abandoned. In these cases, a physician champion, management support, and financial sustainability were judged to be the primary enablers of successful implementations of SMAs. Without these enablers and other contributing factors, implementing SMAs was challenging. [PubMed abstract](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24156662) ![Cheryl Stults, Ph.D.](https://dyn.mktgcdn.com/p/3IhveEwq-t5WoqAzSNGeAr-4g4yrj4v7x1QcPGdCX_s/fit=crop,gravity=auto,dpr=2,width=188,height=250,quality=100) Cheryl Stults, Ph.D. Principal investigator [View profile](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/investigators/cheryl-stults-phd-1049681000) ## Research topics - [Health Services](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Health+Services%5C%22%22) ## Related publications [View all publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?verticalKey=research_publication) - Publication ### [Comment on: Measuring the volume-outcome relation for complex hospital surgery.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/comment-vol-outcome-relation-complex-hosp-surg-1055312432) Luft HS. Appl Health Econ Health Policy. doi: 10.1007/s40258-017-0334-x. \[Epub ahead of print\] 2017 Jun 03 - Publication ### [First Look - Stanford Medicine X PCORI Panel.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/first-look-stanford-medicine-x-pcori-panel-1055312772) Tai-Seale M. YouTube video. 2013 Sep 27 - Publication ### [Experiences of primary care physicians and staff following Lean workflow redesign.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/pcp-and-staff-experiences-with-lean-workflow-redesign-1055312311) Hung DY, Harrison MI, Truong Q, Du X. BMC Health Serv Res. 18(1):274. doi: 10.1186/s12913-018-3062-5. 2018 Apr 10 - Publication ### [Having and being a personal physician: vision of the Pisacano scholars.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/having-and-being-a-personal-physician-1055312594) DeVoe JE, Lesser LI. J Am Board Fam Med 24(4):463-8. doi: 10.3122/jabfm.2011.04.100293. 2011 Aug 01 - Publication ### [Quality of US primary care delivered by resident and staff physicians.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/quality-of-us-primary-care-by-physicians-1055312645) Zallman L, Ma J, Xiao L, Lasser KE. J Gen Intern Med. 25(11):1193-7. doi: 10.1007/s11606-010-1456-0. Epub 2010 Jul 20. 2010 Nov 01 [View all publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?verticalKey=research_publication) ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalOrganization","name":"Sutter Health","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org","logo":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/static/images/sutter-health-logo.svg","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"2200 River Plaza Drive","addressLocality":"Sacramento","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"95833","addressCountry":"US"},"areaServed":{"@type":"AdministrativeArea","name":"California"},"sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/SutterHealth","https://www.instagram.com/sutterhealth/","https://x.com/SutterHealth","https://www.youtube.com/sutterhealth","https://www.linkedin.com/company/sutter-health","https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutter_Health"]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/challenges-to-adoption-of-shared-medical-appts-1055312762#breadcrumblist","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Research","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Research publications","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Challenges to adoption of shared medical appts."}]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalScholarlyArticle","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/challenges-to-adoption-of-shared-medical-appts-1055312762#medicalscholarlyarticle","name":"Overcoming challenges to adoption of shared medical appointments.","headline":"Challenges to adoption of shared medical appts.","abstract":"Although research has shown many benefits of Shared Medical Appointments (SMAs) or group visits, uptake by physicians has been quite limited. 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