The Jeanie Schmidt Free Clinic (JSFC) has received a CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst) grant to expand its Shared Medical Appointment program, a treatment model designed to increase clinic capacity, maximize staff and volunteer efficiency, and empower patients to engage in their own health care outcomes. The $50,000 CareFirst grant will allow the clinic to serve as many as 150 chronically ill patients in Fairfax County, an expansion of the Clinic’s original pilot group of 15 patients. LISTEN TO AUDIO FROM THE EVENT.
Shared medical appointments deliver routine and follow-up care in small group settings, in this case for the chronically ill. The visits are voluntary and provide secure and interactive environments for patients to have access to physicians, nurse practitioners and specially trained chronic disease and wellness educators that can provide treatment and counseling as a health care team. Patients benefit from the ability to interact and support other patients experiencing similar health issues. Educators offer counseling on diabetes, blood pressure, nutrition, and other healthy behaviors to improve the overall wellness of program
participants.
To read full news release please visit Patient Safety & Quality Healthcare
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