Researchers at the University of Chicago and the Midwest Clinicians’ Network (MWCN) have been working together since 1997. In response to an interest in group visits among MWCN’s health center members, we conducted a pilot study in 2015 which showed improvement in glycemic control and satisfaction with care among patients who participated in diabetes group visits at six health centers. This initial pilot led to a larger study funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service, Office of Minority Health, called Diabetes MESSAGES (Medical care, Education, Social Support, and Goal-setting to Empower Self-management).

The Diabetes MESSAGES project aimed to improve diabetes outcomes by implementing a replicable diabetes group visit program at the regional level. Community health center providers and staff received in-person and web-based training led by the University of Chicago and MWCN where they learned the necessary skills to implement group visits at their sites. The University of Chicago and MWCN worked with these health center teams to evaluate the effects of the program on patient knowledge, self-care behaviors, quality of life, clinical outcomes, processes of care, and health care utilization. The results of this study were used to develop this diabetes group visit toolkit that could be used by health centers and providers nationally.