title: Community Health Teams: A Healthcare Provider's System Transformation Opportunity.
abstract: "The goal of community health teams is to develop and implement care models that integrate clinical and community health promotion and preventive services for patients." -Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO)1 Eleven community health teams (CHTs) operate in various geographies within Rhode Island. Physicians and payers refer their highest-risk patients to CHTs that serve as community extenders. Community health workers and others work to link referred individuals to primary care and work to address the other determinants affecting their health, such as safe housing. Since much of health is driven by factors outside of the healthcare setting, CHTs compliment the work of physicians within the office environment. Transforming practices and addressing both the physical and behavioral needs of patients simultaneously is key to CHT success. This article attempts to quantify the expanding need for CHTs within Rhode Island and describes ways in which CHTs as a practice transformation resource may be leveraged by providers. [Full article available at http://rimed.org/rimedicaljournal-2016-10.asp].
authors.affiliation: Chief Health Program Evaluator at the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH), serving as a SIM Liaison.
authors.forename: James C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Rajotte
authors.affiliation: Health Equity Institute's Co-Director.
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Garneau
authors.affiliation: Chief, Center for Chronic Care and Disease Management.
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sutton
authors.affiliation: Medical Director for the Division of Community Health and Equity.
authors.forename: Ailis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Clyne
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000592:standards* / Q000600:supply & distribution; D003150:Community Health Workers / Q000592:standards*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000592:standards*; D011634:Public Health; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012237:Rhode Island