Building teams in primary care: A practical guide

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Primary Care Medicine
• Team-Based Care Models

Background:

• Primary care is evolving towards a team-based care model.
• Successful implementation of team-based care has been observed in high-performing US primary care practices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify common elements contributing to successful team-based care in primary care settings.
• To provide insights for practices undergoing the transition to team-based care.

Main Methods:

• Conducted site visits to 29 high-performing primary care practices.
• Observed and summarized common elements of care teams.
• Performed a literature search for corroborating evidence.

Main Results:

• Identified 9 key elements in successful primary care teams.
• Elements include stable team structure, colocation, cultural shift, defined roles, standing orders, workflow mapping, adequate staffing, ground rules, and communication modes.
• Communication modes encompassed team meetings, huddles, and real-time interactions.

Conclusions:

• The identified 9 elements can guide practices transitioning to team-based care.
• These elements provide a framework for optimizing team function in primary care.
• Successful adoption of these elements may enhance primary care delivery.