Many areas of the US have an inadequate supply of primary care physicians and the insufficiency is expected to increase. To address these concerns, as well as to improve the quality of the care delivered, health policy experts have recommended that medical practices transform and embrace “team-based” care, encouraging a broader range of medical staff working together.

This article examines different medical staffing patterns in community health centers, the impact of staffing on productivity, staff roles, and the factors affecting staffing patterns.