Author Information

Thomas Abel, MD
"I have heard only positive and enthusiastic comments from my patients, and attendance has been consistently excellent.
Patients do not feel that they are relegated to a distant future appointment.

Personally, my DIGMA has given me an alternative method of caring for my practice. I believe it is more efficient, can save time, and augments my ability to meet the medical needs of my patients."

C. Gregory Culberson, MD
"My neurology DIGMA has been the most satisfying new innovation brought to my practice during my 20 years with The Permanente Medical Group in San Jose ... Patient satisfaction is high because patients and their caregivers leave with the knowledge that their medical issues have been addressed comprehensively, and without the time pressure that sometimes intrudes into the routine office visit.
The results have easily surpassed my expectations. Patients' acceptance has been gratifying, both because of their expanded access to me as their neurologist and because of their positive experiences within the group.

Many patients have commented that the availability of my weekly group has given them the message that we are here for them and that they need not worry about receiving insufficient attention or about being a bother!"

Monica Donovan, MD
"Patients seem very happy with the experience, and responses to anonymous patient satisfaction questionnaires confirm this impression.
I certainly believe that DIGMAs can better address psychological issues as well as issues common among group members with similar diagnosis. Patients can learn from each other and gain a great deal of information and emotional support from the group.

I believe that attending the group sessions can help people to build on their strengths, to pay closer attention to the positive aspects of their lives, and to make their medical care a more pleasant experience.

I find it important to get the word out to my patients about my group by routinely spending 15-30 seconds during every office visit telling patients briefly about the group and some of its advantages, inviting them to have their next visit be a group visit, and giving them a flyer describing my DIGMA."

Rajan Bhandari, MD
"From a professional standpoint, I feel more satisfied in being able to meet both the medical and psychosocial needs of my patients in a very warm and relaxed environment. Having the drop-in format empowers patients by giving them freedom of choice."

Lynn A. Dowdell, MD
"The health psychologist and the encouragement, support, and gentle confrontation of other patients in the group with similar conditions are invaluable for breaking through denial and persuading patients to comply with recommended medical advice.
Overall, I have found my DIGMA group a valuable addition to my practice both by giving my patients more accessibility to me and by enabling me to deliver better service and followup care.

Because more time is available and the setting is more relaxed, my DIGMA lets me answer questions more fully and for many of my patients at once.

After individual consultations, I frequently use my DIGMA as a followup visit to discuss with patients the results of lab tests that I have ordered, to more closely monitor patients in a timely way, to order future tests, or to change medications as needed."

David Granovetter, MD
"Simply put, it's better care!
The groups have a wonderful healing energy about them that is not only helpful to patients, but also gives me hope in general for our ailing health care system."

Joseph E. Mason Jr, MD
"One of the biggest and most pleasant surprises of my medical career has been my experience with my Cancer DIGMA, which has provided a totally new type of service for my cancer patients.
It is very popular among my patients, who receive a kind of support and education not easily possible within the confines of an examination room and brief individual visit.

My patients routinely report to me their great satisfaction with the experience.

As you can see, my DIGMA benefits my cancer patients in many ways. It improves their access to me by providing a weekly time when no barriers exist (not even a phone call) between them and me. It also gives my patients an opportunity to share their experiences and validate their predicament."

William Peters, MD
"I believe that this model brings the human element back into health care. By providing a type of psychological management of medical illness that has not previously been available to physicians in traditional onetoone office visits, the DIGMA more efficiently addresses psychological issues such as denial and noncompliance."

	Thomas Abel, MD "I have heard only positive and enthusiastic comments from my patients, and attendance has been consistently excellent. Patients do not feel that they are relegated to a distant future appointment. Personally, my DIGMA has given me an alternative method of caring for my practice. I believe it is more efficient, can save time, and augments my ability to meet the medical needs of my patients."
	C. Gregory Culberson, MD "My neurology DIGMA has been the most satisfying new innovation brought to my practice during my 20 years with The Permanente Medical Group in San Jose ... Patient satisfaction is high because patients and their caregivers leave with the knowledge that their medical issues have been addressed comprehensively, and without the time pressure that sometimes intrudes into the routine office visit. The results have easily surpassed my expectations. Patients' acceptance has been gratifying, both because of their expanded access to me as their neurologist and because of their positive experiences within the group. Many patients have commented that the availability of my weekly group has given them the message that we are here for them and that they need not worry about receiving insufficient attention or about being a bother!"
	Monica Donovan, MD "Patients seem very happy with the experience, and responses to anonymous patient satisfaction questionnaires confirm this impression. I certainly believe that DIGMAs can better address psychological issues as well as issues common among group members with similar diagnosis. Patients can learn from each other and gain a great deal of information and emotional support from the group. I believe that attending the group sessions can help people to build on their strengths, to pay closer attention to the positive aspects of their lives, and to make their medical care a more pleasant experience. I find it important to get the word out to my patients about my group by routinely spending 15-30 seconds during every office visit telling patients briefly about the group and some of its advantages, inviting them to have their next visit be a group visit, and giving them a flyer describing my DIGMA."
	Rajan Bhandari, MD "From a professional standpoint, I feel more satisfied in being able to meet both the medical and psychosocial needs of my patients in a very warm and relaxed environment. Having the drop-in format empowers patients by giving them freedom of choice."
	Lynn A. Dowdell, MD "The health psychologist and the encouragement, support, and gentle confrontation of other patients in the group with similar conditions are invaluable for breaking through denial and persuading patients to comply with recommended medical advice. Overall, I have found my DIGMA group a valuable addition to my practice both by giving my patients more accessibility to me and by enabling me to deliver better service and followup care. Because more time is available and the setting is more relaxed, my DIGMA lets me answer questions more fully and for many of my patients at once. After individual consultations, I frequently use my DIGMA as a followup visit to discuss with patients the results of lab tests that I have ordered, to more closely monitor patients in a timely way, to order future tests, or to change medications as needed."
	David Granovetter, MD "Simply put, it's better care! The groups have a wonderful healing energy about them that is not only helpful to patients, but also gives me hope in general for our ailing health care system."
	Joseph E. Mason Jr, MD "One of the biggest and most pleasant surprises of my medical career has been my experience with my Cancer DIGMA, which has provided a totally new type of service for my cancer patients. It is very popular among my patients, who receive a kind of support and education not easily possible within the confines of an examination room and brief individual visit. My patients routinely report to me their great satisfaction with the experience. As you can see, my DIGMA benefits my cancer patients in many ways. It improves their access to me by providing a weekly time when no barriers exist (not even a phone call) between them and me. It also gives my patients an opportunity to share their experiences and validate their predicament."
	William Peters, MD "I believe that this model brings the human element back into health care. By providing a type of psychological management of medical illness that has not previously been available to physicians in traditional onetoone office visits, the DIGMA more efficiently addresses psychological issues such as denial and noncompliance."