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DiscussionSpecial Reports

In Search of Joy in Practice: A Report of 23 High-Functioning Primary Care Practices

Christine A. Sinsky, Rachel Willard-Grace, Andrew M. Schutzbank, Thomas A. Sinsky, David Margolius and Thomas Bodenheimer
The Annals of Family Medicine May 2013, 11 (3) 272-278; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1370/afm.1531
Christine A. Sinsky
1Medical Associates Clinic and Health Plans, Dubuque, Iowa
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  • For correspondence: csinsky1@mahealthcare.com
Rachel Willard-Grace
2Center for Excellence in Primary Care, University of California, San Francisco, California
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Andrew M. Schutzbank
3Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
4Iora Health, Cambridge, Massachusetts
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Thomas A. Sinsky
1Medical Associates Clinic and Health Plans, Dubuque, Iowa
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David Margolius
2Center for Excellence in Primary Care, University of California, San Francisco, California
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Thomas Bodenheimer
2Center for Excellence in Primary Care, University of California, San Francisco, California
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Abstract

We highlight primary care innovations gathered from high-functioning primary care practices, innovations we believe can facilitate joy in practice and mitigate physician burnout. To do so, we made site visits to 23 high-performing primary care practices and focused on how these practices distribute functions among the team, use technology to their advantage, improve outcomes with data, and make the job of primary care feasible and enjoyable as a life’s vocation. Innovations identified include (1) proactive planned care, with previsit planning and previsit laboratory tests; (2) sharing clinical care among a team, with expanded rooming protocols, standing orders, and panel management; (3) sharing clerical tasks with collaborative documentation (scribing), nonphysician order entry, and streamlined prescription management; (4) improving communication by verbal messaging and in-box management; and (5) improving team functioning through co-location, team meetings, and work flow mapping. Our observations suggest that a shift from a physician-centric model of work distribution and responsibility to a shared-care model, with a higher level of clinical support staff per physician and frequent forums for communication, can result in high-functioning teams, improved professional satisfaction, and greater joy in practice.

  • personal satisfaction
  • physician
  • health care delivery
  • health services research
  • patient-centered care
  • primary health care
  • patient care team
  • burnout
  • professional
  • organizational innovation
  • primary health care
  • Received for publication May 13, 2012.
  • Revision received October 20, 2012.
  • Accepted for publication November 20, 2012.
  • © 2013 Annals of Family Medicine, Inc.
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The Annals of Family Medicine: 11 (3)
The Annals of Family Medicine
Vol. 11, Issue 3
May/June 2013
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In Search of Joy in Practice: A Report of 23 High-Functioning Primary Care Practices
Christine A. Sinsky, Rachel Willard-Grace, Andrew M. Schutzbank, Thomas A. Sinsky, David Margolius, Thomas Bodenheimer
The Annals of Family Medicine May 2013, 11 (3) 272-278; DOI: 10.1370/afm.1531

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In Search of Joy in Practice: A Report of 23 High-Functioning Primary Care Practices
Christine A. Sinsky, Rachel Willard-Grace, Andrew M. Schutzbank, Thomas A. Sinsky, David Margolius, Thomas Bodenheimer
The Annals of Family Medicine May 2013, 11 (3) 272-278; DOI: 10.1370/afm.1531
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