In order to meet the full range of patient needs in primary care, care teams have to include individuals with diverse skillsets. That’s why we see organizations expanding team-based primary care, especially as value-based payment becomes a larger portion of the business model. As your organization looks to expand your care team, it can be difficult to identify exactly which roles to invest in. Do you need a pharmacist or an RN care manager?

This series of cheat sheets provides four-page introductions to different members of the primary care team, including considerations on funding the role, the deployment model, and KPIs.

Clinical pharmacist

The clinical pharmacist supports care for high-risk patients by optimizing patient medication regimens, facilitating medication adherence, and providing chronic disease education

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RN care manager

The RN care manager supports high- and rising-risk patients with multiple chronic conditions and/or psychosocial needs to help them navigate clinical and non-clinical services and improve self-management.

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Community health worker

The CHW is a non-clinical team member who serves as a liaison between the patient and health system. They help surface and address patients’ unmet social needs and promote chronic disease self-management.

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Licensed clinical social worker (LCSW)

The LCSW addresses patients’ behavioral and non-clinical needs through counseling and providing connections to non-clinical resources available in the community.

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