The teamlet model of primary care

Area of Science:

• Primary Care Medicine
• Healthcare Delivery Models
• Health Coaching

Background:

• Current primary care models face time constraints within 15-minute physician visits.
• Physicians struggle to provide comprehensive services expected in primary care.
• There is a need for innovative models to enhance primary care delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and describe a teamlet model of care to extend the traditional 15-minute physician visit.
• To outline the structure and components of the proposed teamlet care model.
• To identify necessary adaptations for implementing the teamlet model in primary care practices.

Main Methods:

• The proposed teamlet model includes 1 clinician and 2 health coaches.
• A clinical encounter is divided into 4 parts: previsit, clinician visit, postvisit, and between-visit care, all facilitated by health coaches.
• Retraining of medical assistants or other practice personnel is required for the health coach role.

Main Results:

• The teamlet model aims to extend the limited time of a 15-minute physician visit.
• Implementation requires training 2 health coaches per full-time equivalent clinician.
• Existing organizations have adopted partial aspects of the teamlet model.

Conclusions:

• The teamlet model offers a potential solution to time limitations in primary care.
• Health coaches play a crucial role in extending care beyond the physician's direct visit.
• Successful adoption necessitates investment in personnel retraining and a structured approach to patient flow.