From “Fixer” to “Facilitator”: A Clinical Review of Shared Medical Appointments as a Strategy for Workforce Sustainability

Authors

• Barbara A. Slusher, University of LynchburgFollow

Specialty

Rheumatology

Advisor

Elijah Salzer

Permission to Publish?

1

Abstract

Clinician burnout remains a significant threat to workforce sustainability, particularly in resource-constrained settings managing complex chronic diseases. While shared medical appointments (SMAs) have demonstrated clear benefits in patient satisfaction and access, their impact on clinician well-being and professional fulfillment is less clearly defined. This review evaluates whether participation in SMAs improves clinician satisfaction and mitigates burnout by facilitating a conceptual transition from isolated “Fixer” to collaborative “Facilitator.”

A targeted literature search of PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar identified peer-reviewed publications examining shared medical appointments and clinician-centered outcomes, including burnout, clinician satisfaction, and workforce sustainability. Eight PubMed studies and one Cochrane review met the final inclusion criteria. Available evidence suggests that SMAs may enhance professional fulfillment and strengthen interprofessional collaboration by leveraging the collective expertise of the healthcare team.  Reported benefits include reduced repetition of patient education, enhanced professional agency, and greater meaning in work through deeper patient engagement.

However, the evidence base remains methodologically heterogeneous, with a lack of longitudinal studies using validated burnout instruments or consistent comparator groups. Despite these limitations, current findings indicate that SMAs may positively influence clinician satisfaction and mitigate the strain of chronic disease management. To further validate these outcomes, future research should incorporate standardized, longitudinal measures of well-being across diverse clinical specialties. Ultimately, SMAs represent a scalable, evidence-based approach to optimizing patient health while securing long-term healthcare workforce sustainability.

Recommended Citation

Slusher, Barbara A. () "From “Fixer” to “Facilitator”: A Clinical Review of Shared Medical Appointments as a Strategy for Workforce Sustainability," Lynchburg Journal of Medical Science: Vol. 2: Iss. 2, Article 6.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.63932/3067-7106.1091
Available at: https://digitalshowcase.lynchburg.edu/jms/vol2/iss2/6