Strategic Rationale

Cleveland Clinic’s Shared Medical Appointment (SMA) program has been operating in small numbers since 1999. A formal SMA program originated from a 2010 directive by the then-CEO, who foresaw a convergence of systemic pressures demanding new models of care to improve access. SMAs were designed as a force multiplier program, a single innovation that benefits patients, providers, and the health system simultaneously by expanding access, protecting quality, and improving the patient and provider experience. They unlocked clinician capacity and convenience without increasing headcount or sacrificing quality, reinforcing the Clinic’s reputation for pairing clinical excellence with operational innovation.