For in-person group visits, you will need a space that can fit all of the patients, providers, and staff participating in the group visit. The space should be private with minimal interruptions from people outside the group. Arranging chairs in a circle or horseshoe shape is more conducive to conversation than a typical classroom set-up. You will also need space for individual medical exams, ideally close to the group room, and access to clinical supplies (blood pressure cuffs, scales, monofilaments, etc.). 

For virtual group visits, you will need a telehealth platform that can accommodate groups. Depending on your platform, you may have the ability to break out into smaller groups or one-on-one meetings during the visit. Consider whether you need space for providers and staff to join from clinic. If access to technology is a barrier for some patients, you could consider having them use a device within a private area at the clinic to join the virtual session.

You may want access to other resources depending on what activities you have planned (e.g., kitchen for a cooking demonstration, open space for physical activity). Some health center teams have even planned “field trips” for some of their sessions, like a grocery store tour, gym orientation, or walk in the park.

Think about what supplies you will need for your group visit program and how you might obtain them. What does your health center already have on hand? Can you advocate for a budget to cover program supplies? What can you get for free from professional organizations or pharmaceutical companies? What might local organizations or businesses be willing to donate?

Possible items you might need:

• Educational materials (e.g., curriculum, patient handouts)
• Presentation materials (e.g., laptop and projector, flip charts or dry erase board)
• Office supplies (e.g., markers, pens, notepads, folders or binders)
• Patient giveaways (e.g., measuring cups and cookbooks when you’re talking about healthy eating, or socks and mirrors when you’re talking about foot care)
• Healthy snacks

Health centers typically bill for the individual medical visits patients have during the group visit session. You may want to share resources about group visit billing or set up a meeting with your clinic’s billing manager, accounts payable, CFO, etc. to make sure your organization is prepared to bill. You could also consider reaching out to insurance payers in your region for further guidance about billing options that may be specific to your state or to the plans some of your patients have.

Equity is one of the key dimensions of the Institute of Medicine’s framework for health care quality. Many health centers have made great strides to address disparities in health and health care. Still, it is important to acknowledge that disparities in health care and outcomes exist within all organizations. New health care delivery strategies, such as group visits, can be opportunities to address disparities if equity is considered during the design and implementation. Without an equity lens, well-meaning interventions can perpetuate or worsen disparities.

Advancing Health Equity offers a roadmap, strategies, and tools for organizations working to identify and reduce health and health care disparities among the patients they serve. Guidance is provided for each step of the process, such as examining root causes and stratifying data. While there are no easy solutions to eliminate health disparities, a thoughtfully designed group visit program could contribute to a culture of equity within your organization.

For more guidance, you can refer to the Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) Standards put forth by the Office of Minority Health when thinking about how to tailor group visits to your patients. The principal standard is: “Provide effective, equitable, understandable, and respectful quality care and services that are responsive to diverse cultural health beliefs and practices, preferred languages, health literacy, and other communication needs.”