Asthma DIGMA Group
Doctor's Interactive Group Medical Appointment
Patients love DIGMAs! DIGMAs deliver high quality, innovative and cost-saving medical care to many patients. Sansum Clinic has been conducting asthma DIGMAs for many years with great success in a group setting.
Download the (PDF) and read our feature article about DIGMAs from Good Health Magazine (Fall 2011)
What is a DIGMA?
It’s an engaging, friendly forum for patient education and self-management.
The DIGMA program allows physicians to evaluate asthmatic patients on a weekly basis and provide disease education. In addition, these group visits allow patients to interact with one another in a mutually supportive environment. Family members are also encouraged to attend.
Our allergists and immunologists address medical concerns, a behaviorist facilitates group discussion and psychosocial issues, and an asthma educator addresses specific questions regarding monitoring and equipment.
Benefits of DIGMAs
- Patients and their doctors are together for an hour or more.
- Patients benefit from being able to hear how others with a similar condition are treated, whether they have similar side effects to medicines and show improved compliance with treatment.
- Doctors may be reminded of issues by one patient that applies to other patients in the group.
- Having a chronic illness can be very isolating; the group format virtually eliminates the isolation that so often accompanies illness.
Patients are referred to the Asthma Drop-In Group Medical Appointments (DIGMAs) by our Allergy providers only.