Implementing shared medical appointments for heart failure patients in a community cardiology practice: a pilot study

To examine patient and staff satisfaction, billing charges, and programmatic feasibility of shared medical appointments (SMA) in a nurse practitioner-managed heart failure (HF) clinic in a community cardiology practice.

Twenty patients were scheduled among four SMAs for this pilot study. All aspects of a usual clinic appointment were utilized during the SMA, but an additional 20-minute teaching session was presented. All patients completed a satisfaction questionnaire. The office staff completed satisfaction questionnaires about the SMA. Billing charges, cancellations and missed appointments without cancellation for SMAs were compared to usual clinic appointment days.

Satisfaction was high among patients and office staff. Rates for no-shows were similar for SMAs versus usual appointments (15% versus 5.5%), but there were fewer cancellations among SMAs (0% versus 28%). This may be a reflection of the personalized appointment reminder calls that were made to the patients scheduled for SMAs. Billing charges were not significantly different for SMAs versus usual appointments.

SMAs are a feasible option in a community cardiology practice.