Shared Medical Appointments (SMAs)

*Please click here for an example of a recent series of Shared Medical Appointments focusing on prevention of type 2 diabetes*

Individual consults are delivered in a group setting with members who share a similar health concern, providing efficiency, more overall time with your health providers, and the benefits of learning with and being supported by other group members.

Group settings offer a chance for you to listen to others, learn from them and feel more supported in your health journey. Every member signs a confidentiality agreement prior to commencing, and what you choose to share in the group will be at your own discretion; there is never any pressure for you to divulge information if you’re not comfortable to do so.

SMAs provide you with increased doctor-patient contact time, greater patient education, and closer attention to your ongoing health needs.* Research also shows that SMAs can make significant improvement to health outcomes by improving knowledge and your ability to manage your own health and build healthier habits for life.**

*Wadsworth KH, Archibald TG, Payne AE, Cleary AK, Haney BL, Hoverman AS. Shared medical appointments and patient-centered experience: a mixed-methods systematic review. BMC Fam Pract. 2019;20(1):97. Published 2019 Jul 8. doi:10.1186/s12875-019-0972-1  

**Australasian Society of Lifestyle Medicine, A brief review of the evidence for Shared Medical Appointments (SMAs) and Medical Yarn Ups (MYUs), https://lifestylemedicine.org.au/content/a-brief-review-of-the-evidence-for-shared-medical-appointments-smas-and-medical-yarn-ups-myus/