Interdisciplinary prenatal group visits as a significant learning experience

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Primary Care
• Patient-Centered Care

Background:

• Group visits offer proven benefits for both patients and clinicians.
• They serve as an effective platform for training residents in interdisciplinary care and group facilitation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of group visits in resident training for prenatal care.
• To assess resident skill acquisition in facilitation and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Main Methods:

• Third-year residents provided prenatal care through group visits instead of traditional one-on-one appointments.
• A descriptive study utilized patient feedback, team member input, self-reflection, and behavioral health clinician observation for evaluation.

Main Results:

• Residents demonstrated increased competency in facilitation and team collaboration skills through observation.
• The group visit model fostered the teaching and modeling of biopsychosocial, whole-person care and effective communication by interdisciplinary teams.

Conclusions:

• Group visits provide a valuable educational experience, enhancing resident skills applicable to primary care medical home practice.
• This model benefits patients and clinicians while promoting enriching resident education.
• The described group visit model is readily implementable in other residency programs.