Original articleShared medical appointments: new concept for high-volume follow-up for bariatric patients
Section snippets
SMA model
In our clinic, we adopted the follow-up SMA and physical examination SMA models. SMAs were offered to all consecutive patients who had undergone surgery at least 2 months previously. The first follow-up visit after surgery was always an individual one. Before and during the implementation of SMAs, all patients received a form explaining the SMA model, and the patients with upcoming individual appointments were interviewed by telephone and were offered the opportunity of changing their
Results
From April 2004 to December 2004, 277 individual visits were conducted—242 for patients who underwent RYGBP and 35 for patients who underwent LGB. During the same period, 33 SMAs (physical examination and follow-up) were conducted: 28 for patients who underwent RYGBP and 5 for patients who underwent LGB.
Of the patients who initially participated in an SMA, 91% scheduled a subsequent SMA and 96% indicated they would recommend SMAs to others. On a scale of 1 to 5 (1, poor and 5, excellent),
Discussion
The treatment of obesity is challenging and often disappointing, despite a variety of pharmacologic treatments, nutritional regimens, exercise, and behavioral therapy [7]. Although bariatric surgery offers patients an effective and sustained treatment for obesity, it is no panacea. Patients who undergo bariatric surgery also require intensive follow-up, including lifestyle and behavioral modifications. With the growing obese population and increasing demand for bariatric surgery, it is
Conclusion
SMAs can increase patient access and reduce backlog without increasing clinic time. This model can boost productivity and improve patient care, with high satisfaction rates.
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