Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death among women in the United States, yet millions of Americans live in regions without access to a single cardiologist. Nearly half of U.S. counties are cardiology deserts, forcing patients to endure long waits for appointments or go without care altogether. This access crisis reflects more than a shortage of specialists—it exposes a fundamental flaw in how care is delivered. The traditional one-on-one appointment model is no longer sufficient in the face of rising chronic illness, an ageing population and a strained workforce. However, virtual group care presents a powerful and scalable solution, offering patients timely access, improved outcomes and a more engaging healthcare experience.
Reimagining Care Delivery Through Shared Medical Appointments
Shared medical appointments (SMAs) have existed since the 1970s, providing longer, structured and reimbursable group sessions where patients with similar health conditions receive care simultaneously. These appointments typically last 60 to 120 minutes and are designed to integrate clinical guidance with health coaching and peer support. While SMAs have traditionally been conducted in person, advances in technology now make it possible to deliver this model virtually and at scale.
Virtual SMAs are especially transformative for underserved populations, particularly women who often face significant geographic, financial and caregiving barriers that delay or prevent access to care. By eliminating the need for travel and reducing logistical burdens, virtual group care enables earlier diagnosis and treatment of heart conditions that are frequently overlooked or mismanaged in traditional care models. This innovative approach reframes how provider expertise is allocated, ensuring that limited resources are used more effectively to reach patients who need them most.
Improving Outcomes Through Engagement and Education
The success of SMAs lies in their ability to combine clinical care with peer interaction, extended education and ongoing support. Traditional 18.9-minute appointments often lack the time needed for comprehensive lifestyle counselling, medication adjustments or behavioural coaching. In contrast, SMAs foster an environment that enables sustained patient engagement and better self-management of chronic conditions.
Must Read: The Future of Telehealth: Trends Shaping Virtual Healthcare in 2025
Evidence from both in-person and virtual group care settings demonstrates tangible clinical benefits: increased rates of blood pressure control, significant reductions in A1c for diabetes patients, sustainable weight loss and improved survival outcomes for heart failure. These improvements are driven by enhanced patient motivation, confidence and accountability—outcomes that emerge naturally from the group dynamic. Patients are not only learning from clinicians but also from one another, building self-efficacy and forming stronger relationships with their care teams. Providers, in turn, gain deeper insights into patient needs, allowing them to tailor interventions more effectively.
Driving Operational Efficiency Without Compromising Quality
Health systems are grappling with increasing pressure to expand specialty access while managing financial sustainability and provider burnout. Hiring more clinicians or shortening appointments may seem like obvious solutions, but both are costly and unsustainable. Virtual SMAs offer a viable alternative by increasing provider efficiency, allowing a single specialist to serve multiple patients at once without compromising care quality.
Shared medical visits have been shown to reduce wait times for cardiology appointments by more than 50%, improving access for new and follow-up patients alike. They also boost patient throughput and support clinician retention by offering a more sustainable and rewarding work model. Providers can spend more time meaningfully engaging with patients while avoiding the repetitive strain of brief, one-on-one consultations. In doing so, health systems benefit from reduced leakage, better outcomes and higher patient satisfaction, creating a win-win scenario for all stakeholders.
Virtual group care represents a critical evolution in how cardiology—and potentially other specialties—can be delivered more equitably, efficiently and effectively. By building on the proven foundation of shared medical appointments and leveraging telehealth, this model overcomes longstanding barriers that have prevented millions from accessing timely and high-quality cardiovascular care. The potential for improved clinical outcomes, operational gains and enhanced patient experiences makes virtual SMAs a powerful tool for addressing the growing access crisis in cardiology.
As healthcare systems confront the challenges of workforce shortages and chronic disease burdens, embracing innovative, scalable models is no longer optional—it is essential. Virtual group care is not a temporary fix; it is a forward-looking solution that reimagines how specialty care can be delivered in the 21st century. The opportunity to expand access, empower patients and relieve system strain is within reach; now is the time to act.
Source: HIT Consultant
Image Credit: Freepik
