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

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 role transition from “isolated fixer” to “collaborative facilitator.”

A structured literature search was conducted across PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar using terms including shared medical appointments, chronic disease, burnout, and clinician satisfaction. Eight PubMed studies and one Cochrane review met inclusion criteria for relevance to clinician-specific outcomes. Available evidence suggests that SMAs may enhance professional fulfillment and strengthen interprofessional synergy by leveraging the collective expertise of the healthcare team.  Reported benefits include a significant decrease in the repetition of patient education, improved clinical agency, and increased 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 professional sustainability of the healthcare workforce.

Recommended Citation

Slusher BA. From Fixer to Facilitator: A Clinical Review of Shared Medical Appointments as a Strategy for Workforce Sustainability. University of Lynchburg DMSc Doctoral Project Assignment Repository. 2026; 8(1).