Team-Based Healthcare for Chronic Disease Management

In the US, it is clear that the current healthcare infrastructure is inadequate to meet the population's current and future needs. Several critical factors contribute to this issue. First, the absence of universal healthcare leaves many Americans struggling with affordability, creating significant barriers to accessing care. Meanwhile, despite spending significantly more on healthcare than other high-income countries, healthcare outcomes are comparatively much worse than peers. Lastly, the U.S. faces a high prevalence of chronic conditions, with the highest rate of people living with multiple chronic illnesses among high-income countries and an obesity rate nearly twice the OECD average.

The improved prevention and management of chronic conditions in particular is critical to developing the capacity to offer comprehensive, continuous, well-coordinated care. As the burden of conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and obesity continue to grow, traditional models of care—often centered on the physician-patient relationship—are proving inadequate. 

To effectively address the complexities of chronic diseases, we must embrace team-based healthcare delivery, defined by the National Academy of Medicine as “the provision of health services to individuals, families, and/or their communities by at least two health providers who work collaboratively with patients and their caregivers to the extent preferred by each patient to accomplish shared goals within and across settings to achieve coordinated, high-quality care”. This model integrates the expertise of various healthcare professionals to provide comprehensive and patient-centered care.