Loneliness and Health Outcomes in the High Need Population

The high need population are patients who have three or more chronic diseases and have a functional limitation in their ability to take care for themselves. Investigators aim to understand the effects of a support group intervention, with the use of group medical visits and understand longitudinal effects in emotional wellbeing and loneliness.

The high need population with functional limitations are patients who have three or more chronic diseases and have a functional limitation in their ability to care for themselves (such as bathing or dressing) or perform routine daily tasks. Two-thirds of the population is female, and three-quarters of them are white non-Hispanic and half of the population were described as low income. The High Need Population with functional limitations also utilizes the emergency department at twice the rate of adults with multiple chronic diseases and more than three times more likely to be hospitalized than adults of other populations. Loneliness is seen as a significant independent risk factor for poor health behaviors, physical health problems and psychiatric conditions. Loneliness and isolation are becoming a more recognized entity that contributes to worsening depression. Investigators aim to compare the of effects of a Social Worker and Physician/APP-led support group intervention on loneliness at 9 months, after up to 3 group visits. Shared Medical Visits as a form of support Group increase clinician-patient contact time and provide patients with support and prevention of chronic conditions increasing patient empowerment.