What Types of Workers are Needed to Support High-Quality Primary Care? Study Suggests Ideal Mix for Different Patient Populations

​Consensus exists on what providing high-quality, comprehensive primary care involves; less obvious is what kind of workforce configurations support its delivery. In a study published July 3, 2018, in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, authors say there is an ideal mix to provide high-quality care to patients based on what type of population is being served. According to the researchers, for a primary care practice to provide comprehensive primary care to 10,000 adults, 37 team members, including 8 primary care providers, are necessary. These numbers rise if the primary care practice cares for 10,000 patients with a higher proportion of older adults: 52 staff members, including 12 primary care providers.