Posted: 4/5/2017
Improved access to healthcare helps patients, providers
As she was getting ready to leave her medical appointment recently, Gloria Erives, 47, of Garland hesitated.
“I wish I could stay,” she whispered as she was gathering her belongings. “I’m learning so much, not only about my situation, but about so many other things to help me stay healthy. I would like to come back.”
Erives, who experienced deep vein thrombosis in 2012 and 2014, was at the appointment to make sure her medication was controlling her condition. But she also said she was worried about diabetes and cholesterol, and the appointment helped educate her.
Erives was attending a Labs and Medication Refill Shared Medical Appointment (SMA), one of several offered by Parkland Health & Hospital System at its Community Oriented Primary Care health centers. Parkland launched its SMA program in an effort to improve access to education and preventive care for patients with a variety of health needs, from diabetes to newborn checkups with moms. During these SMAs, a group of patients are able to not only see their primary care physician, but also have vital signs monitored by a nurse and receive educational information from a healthcare professional.
But what makes the appointments even more meaningful for many patients is hearing from and sharing with their peers who are experiencing similar health issues. Several of the SMAs, including the one Erives attended at the Garland Health Center, are conducted in Spanish for patients who do not speak English.
“Shared appointments are really a good thing for both patients and providers,” said Pankaj Patel, MD, staff physician at Parkland’s Garland Health Center. “Patients are taught important material by the medical staff and also learn from their peers. Additionally, SMAs greatly improve access to healthcare. In just one and a half hours, a physician can see 12 to 15 patients and speak with each one of them privately.”
Parkland first began using SMAs in 2003 with asthma groups at its Youth & Family health centers located at various Dallas-area schools. SMAs were later introduced at many of Parkland’s network of community health centers located throughout Dallas County. While the SMAs are offered, patients are not required to attend them. If they prefer, they can still see their doctor for a one-on-one appointment.
But the SMAs have proven to be popular. In 2016, more than 2,000 patients took part in SMAs at Parkland health centers.
“SMAs have gained popularity throughout the country as one way to improve the quality and efficiency of care. At Parkland, we’ve found SMAs offer quicker access to primary care and foster group learning. And they also help reduce the overall cost of care,” said Noel Santini, MD, Senior Medical Director, Ambulatory Services at Parkland.
During the SMA she attended, Erives learned that her cholesterol levels had improved significantly in the past several months, thus avoiding having to take another medication.
“I’ve been trying very hard,” she told the doctor. “I work in a hotel restaurant and they have the best breakfasts. I used to eat lots of fried potatoes, breads and fried eggs. But not anymore. I am much more careful.”
Another patient, Leonel Zuniga, said he has type 2 diabetes and it is important for him to monitor his health.
“Sometimes when I go to the doctor by myself, I don’t always understand everything,” he said. “But with all these other people here, they can help me to better understand diabetes.”
It’s that sense of community and sharing with others who face similar health challenges that inspires many patients attending Parkland SMAs, like Erives, to return again and again.
For more information about services available at Parkland, visit www.parklandhospital.com.