The effectiveness of the shared medical visit among patients with a gynecologic malignancy undergoing chemotherapy along the Texas-Mexico border.

63 Background: The goal of this program was developed in response to The Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) “Crossing the Quality Chasm: A New Health System for the 21st Century” (2001) to provide patient-centered care that would result in improved patient satisfaction and decreased stress through the use of a shared medical visit (SMV) for patients with a gynecologic malignancy undergoing chemotherapy in place of an individual visit. Methods: The study design was a prospective cohort at a university health sciences center located on the Texas-Mexico border. A total of 20 patients will be enrolled in the SMV and 20 in the individualized visit. Participants attended group sessions with the provider that combined assessment, education, and social support. Patient-centered care was achieved by assisting them to obtain their own vital signs and by using a facilitative learning approach during the educational and social support component. Patients in the comparison group were patients who continued in the individua...