Group consultations to address health and wellbeing needs of patients are recognised as being effective and an efficient use of clinicians’ time. They also provide a safe environment where patients can gain mutual support from others with a shared health condition as part of their self-management.
Group Consultations using Near Me
Group consultations are now available using Near Me. Group Waiting Areas can be easily created so clients can attend group sessions using the same process as one to one calls.
Callers enter their full name in the usual caller entry screen, but to protect their privacy, only their initials are seen by other callers. The service provider still sees the full name.
Up to 25 callers can be viewed at the same time on screen. The maximum number of participants is 250.
Providers can select who to admit, share their screen, mute participants and, if necessary, remove people from the call.
A chat function is available which can be turned on or off. Providers can display the full names of callers with their consent. Breakout rooms are available for use with the group.
Here is a leaflet you can download and share with colleagues about Near Me Groups.
This report provides an overview of the use of Near Me Groups from January to December 2023.
Groups Set Up
Information on how to set up a Group Waiting Area can be found here.
How to run a group consultation
Here is a Quick Start Process Document to give you an overview of the basics.
To help with scheduling and running Near Me Groups, we have produced Guidance for Near Me Video Groups to help get you started.
In addition, there is a “Test Call Checklist” to help with getting group participants connected prior to the group starting if indicated.
Once you have your waiting area, please refer to the simple instructional guides for both Service Providers and Callers found here.
Webinars and Videos
You can view webinars featuring clinicians from Mental Health and Allied Health Professions speaking about their use of Near Me Group in their services. Short videos of clinicians from Dietetics, Midwifery and Neuropsychology describing how they use Near Me Groups can also be viewed along with others on our You Tube Channel
