High-Performing Teamlets in Primary Care: A Qualitative Comparative Analysis

In efforts to improve patient care, collaborative approaches to care have been highlighted. The teamlet model is one such approach, in which a primary care clinician works consistently with the same clinical staff member. The purpose of this study is to identify the characteristics of high-performing primary care teamlets, defined as teamlets with low rates of ambulatory care sensitive emergency department (ACSED) visits and ambulatory care sensitive hospital admissions (ACSAs).

Twenty-six individual qualitative interviews were performed with physicians and their teamlet staff member across 13 teamlets. Potentially important characteristics related to high-performing primary care teamlets were identified, calibrated, and analyzed using qualitative comparative analysis (QCA).

Key characteristics identified by the QCA that were often present in teamlets with low rates of ACSED visits and, to a lesser extent, ACSAs were staff proactiveness in anticipating physician needs and physician-reported trust in their staff member.

This study suggests that physician trust in their staff and proactiveness of staff in anticipating physician needs are important in promoting high-performing teamlets in primary care. Additional studies are indicated to further explore the relationship between these characteristics and high-performing teamlets, and to identify other characteristics that may be important.