Episode 75: FlashCast: When You’re Struggling to Fill Your Group Visits

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In this episode, we explore five essential tips to maximize attendance in group visits, addressing the challenges faced by many healthcare professionals. The significance of group visits becomes evident when we recognize the limitations of scaling one-on-one patient care. Dr. Lara Salyer, your host, shares valuable insights on how to make these visits more effective and impactful.

First, set realistic expectations, emphasizing the significance of group visits as part of the treatment plan.

Secondly, utilize reminders with specific topics to increase attendance and create a safe environment for participants.

Thirdly, gather valuable feedback by polling patients and the community to understand their needs and preferences. Fourthly, mind your language and use inviting terms to describe group visits.

Finally, consider open or closed enrollment options, offering flexibility or fostering a sense of community. By implementing these tips, healthcare professionals can enhance group visit effectiveness and promote better patient outcomes and community engagement.

By implementing these five tips, healthcare professionals can enhance attendance and effectiveness in group visits, thereby fostering better patient outcomes and community engagement. Remember, group visits offer valuable opportunities for patients to connect, learn from one another, and receive support throughout their healing journey.

About The Catalyst Host, Dr. Lara Salyer:

I worked as a family physician for 15 years until burnout changed the trajectory of my career. I realized I wanted to start a holistic functional medicine practice in my rural hometown and made it happen. In addition to practicing functional medicine, I now mentor practitioners who are looking to change their paths in healthcare by using what I refer to as the “Catalyst Roadmap”. I share each step of this framework with listeners so that they may apply it to their careers, relationships, personal goals, and projects.

In This Episode I'm Talking About:

Unveiling 5 key strategies to maximize attendance and effectiveness in group visits
Emphasizing the role of realistic expectations, timely reminders, effective communication, and patient feedback in creating impactful group visits
Exploring the benefits and considerations of different enrollment options in fostering a sense of community and promoting better patient outcomes

Quotes:

“Functional, holistic, integrative medicine is simply not scalable. The math does not work. You can’t serve your patients or population one-on-one. We don’t have enough physicians, providers, practitioners. We need to be clever and innovative with growing this kind of education and lifestyle support.” (Dr. Lara Salyer | 01:30)
“Group visits are a key part of this. Group visits help patients see they’re not alone. They help patients learn from other patients. They also help promote your services because as you have newer people in the fold, you might have people that have been through your methods or systems that reassure and tell those newer people, Hey, I’ve been there too.” (Dr. Lara Salyer | 03:20)
“Reminding your patients with a topic can really help increase that attendance and help them get used to what is going on.” (Dr. Lara Salyer | 05:47)
“Tip one was set expectations. Tip two, remind them. Tip three, pull your members. Tip four, look at the words you’re using when you’re describing these groups.” (Dr. Lara Salyer | 10:22)