Improving Team-Based Care in Family Medicine: Lessons Learned from a Practice Transformation Study

Abstract

Team-based care is a key element of a successful primary care practice or patient centered medical home (PCMH). However, before practices can transform to PCMHs, they have to transform their staff to assume new roles and develop needed skills in the new practice paradigm. As medical practices move towards developing increased coordination of care and effective population management this focus has changed how offices function and communicate as a group. The objective of this project addressed training 6 primary care practices (physicians and their office staff) on the tenets of team-based care using the Agency Health Care Research and Quality (AHRQ) Primary Care Version of TeamSTEPPS framework. Common challenges in improving team–based care as well as lessons learned from participating in a practice transformation process are shared.