Health systems are under pressure to transform the care they provide. Growth in patient complexity and cost, coupled with policy mandates and new funding opportunities, requires advanced patient management methods. Primary care is key to this transformation, but most practices are not set up for longitudinal patient management. PCPs are lacking, burned out, and don’t have the time or resources to accomplish nontraditional tasks needed to improve patient management.
Team-based primary care presents a solution. It diversifies the skill set to needed functions (e.g., behavioral health, care management, pharmacy, social support) and allows physicians to work at top of license. However, many population health and ambulatory care leaders struggle to make the case for such investment.