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* [Health](/section/health/)

# The New Group Medical Checkup

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by 

[Alice Park](https://time.com/author/alice-park/)

Aug 26, 2013 4:00 AM UTC

by 

[Alice Park](https://time.com/author/alice-park/)

Aug 26, 2013 4:00 AM UTC

“As soon as I mention shared medical appointments, everybody pictures a room full of people in their underwear,” says Dr. Richard Kratche, a family physician at the Cleveland Clinic. Actually, most people could picture a lot worse, but despite that, Kratche is one of a growing number of doctors who conduct group visits for routine physicals–and his patients are part of a growing number of folks who are fine with that.

Since 2005, the percentage of U.S. family-medicine practices offering group visits has doubled, from 6% to 13%. And with major provisions of the Affordable Care Act set to be implemented next year, medicine en masse is becoming an attractive cost saver too. While your private moments remain private, consultations are conducted as a group, and that requires divulging personal information in front of strangers (albeit ones who have signed confidentiality waivers).

Still, some patients like the appointments because they can learn more about preventing disease and avoiding expensive treatments, and doctors like them because they streamline the way they deliver care. Rather than repeating the same advice about lowering blood pressure or keeping glucose levels in check to individual patients, physicians see up to a dozen patients at once for about 90 minutes. Each gets some one-on-one time with the doctor before the group discusses every member’s progress.

Such sharing isn’t for everyone, however, and some doctors fear patients may be discouraged from discussing important health issues in a group setting. But among those who try shared visits, about 85% don’t go back to individual exams for everything from diabetes to weight loss and skin-related issues.

No national studies have yet documented whether these visits are improving health outcomes, but patients say they learn more from them than they would after 15 minutes alone with a doctor. Bruce Moore, who gets an annual physical with six other men at the Cleveland Clinic, lost 48 lb. (22 kg) and brought his blood pressure under control after seeing his unhealthy numbers posted on a board during his first shared visits. “Office visits can be intimidating, but the group is almost like extended family who support you and wish you well,” says Moore.

FOR MORE IDEAS FOR THE FUTURE, VISIT [time.com/breakthrough](https://time.com/breakthrough)

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