Teamlets in primary care: Enhancing the patient and clinician experience

Abstract

Many primary care practices have created a team structure in which a clinician and medical assistant "teamlet" form the core of a larger team. The larger team comprises a few teamlets supported by other clinical personnel. Patients are empaneled to a particular teamlet. The teamlet structure, which turns large practices into small units, is attractive to patients, most of whom prefer small rather than large practices. Clinicians working in stable teamlets, with the same medical assistant every day, have less burnout than clinicians working with different medical assistants on different days. The teamlet model can thus create positive experiences for clinicians and patients alike.