Virtual group consultations offer continuity of care globally during Covid‐19

Abstract

Covid‐19 has led to virtual care (mainly telephone consultations) becoming a default worldwide, despite well‐documented shortcomings. Published evidence on virtual group consultations is limited, although interest and front‐line experience have grown substantially since pandemic onset. Unpublished data are summarised showing feasibility of transitioning care to this model across different countries, care settings and conditions. An international webinar series has supported development and sharing of best practice and representative data on spread and utilisation of virtual groups. This model of care creates time and space for more questions and answers, so once engaged patients become staunch advocates. Group care supports personalised care and lifestyle medicine, which is growing very rapidly. In the current context, even healthcare providers under pressure can implement virtual group consultations. Most virtual group consultations have a facilitator, so this allows roles to be extended and support education of both students and new team members. These can confer greater access, continuity of care, peer support and timely information about Covid‐19 and may result in better health outcomes. Given the rapid and widespread implementation of virtual care during this pandemic, data should be shared effectively and methodologically sound observational studies and clinical trials to test safety and effectiveness should be promoted now.

Diverse research designs are needed for population health: Lessons from Maslow

“…These include stepped wedge designs, just-in-time adaptive interventions (JITAIs, sometimes referred to as 'jedis'), (sequential) multi-randomisation trials, and 'small data' approaches. [5][6][7] As innovative interventions spread at scale, we believe We suggest therefore that HTA bodies and other stakeholders work actively towards an expansion of their instruments and funding pathways. In this discussion, a 'value-flower with 12 petals' to broaden the view of what constitutes value in healthcare has been suggested 11 adding to the well-established factors of quality-adjusted life-years, net costs, productivity, and adherence-improving factors, eight new assessments: reduction in uncertainty, fear of contagion, insurance value, severity of disease, value of hope, real option value, equity, and scientific spillovers.…”

“…Virtual group consultations, able to utilise limited resources (health professionals) maximally and deliver efficient care 5 , are an example of an innovative intervention that cannot be evaluated in a classic RCT.…”

Scaling group consultations – the fourth healthcare revolution: A call to action to save primary care

“…Shared challenges have certainly encouraged the lifestyle medicine community to join up globally, notably through the virtual group consultation webinar series (https://bslm.org.uk/vgc/). This collaboration between the leading UK, USA and Australian lifestyle medicine organisations has engaged clinicians and academic alike in sharing best practice in this space 3 . There have now been 15 webinars with more than 3500 registered attendees from over 60 countries and videos watched over 5000 times on catch‐up.…”

“…As a patient co‐designed care model group consultations support that vision, inherently supporting, developing and maintaining compassionate communities, as well as creating time and space for Lifestyle Medicine 2 . During the challenges of the pandemic, increased virtual networking, training and delivery of virtual group consultations have been a silver lining 3 . This article will give an overview of the inherent codesign, their value and how scaling might be achieved using place‐based partnerships.…”

Educational collaboration can empower patients, support doctors in training and future‐proof medical education

“…9 We keeping medical education relevant and codesigning care, for example with virtual group consultations: a choice that addresses inequality and supports both care and education. 11 These partnerships and involvement are at a level required as necessary to ensure change and embed patient involvement at all levels in medical education. 12…”