Primary Care Leadership and Team Building Research and Publications

Enabling System Functionalities of Primary Care Practices for Team Dynamics in Transformation to Team-Based Care: A Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA)

Lingrui, L., Chien, A.T., Singer, S.J. Enabling System Functionalities of Primary Care Practices for Team Dynamics in Transformation to Team-Based Care: A Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA). Healthcare. July 2023.
* This research was conducted by a team external to the HMS Center for Primary Care. The Center offered the intervention detailed in the article.

The impact of physician leadership development on behaviour and work-related changes

Sakelaris, V., Sullivan, E.E., Harris, D. The impact of physician leadership development on behaviour and work-related changes. Published online June 30, 2023. doi:https://doi.org/10.1177/08404704231185550

Primary Care Physician Leadership in Top Ranked US Hospitals

Sullivan, E.E., Stephenson, A.L., Khaing, W.W., Bazemore, A., Hoffman, A.R. Primary Care Physician Leadership in Top Ranked US Hospitals. J Am Board Fam Med. 2023;36(4):682-684. doi:10.3122/jabfm.2022.220371R1

How to Make Leadership Positions More Enticing to Primary Care Physicians

Stephenson, A.L., Sullivan, E.E., and Hoffman, A.R. How to Make Leadership Positions More Enticing to Primary Care Physicians. Harvard Business Review. June 29, 2023.

Primary Care in Peril: How Clinicians View the Problems and Solutions | NEJM Catalyst

Sullivan, E.E., Etz, R.S., Gonzalez, M.M., Reves, S.R., Deubel, J., Stange, K.C., Green, L.A., Bitton, A., Griffiths, E.P., Sinsky, C.A., & Linzer, M. Primary Care in Peril: How Clinicians View the Problems and Solutions. NEJM Catalyst. 2023;4(6):CAT.23.0029. doi:doi:10.1056/CAT.23.0029

Primary care clinicians came under great pressure during the Covid-19 pandemic, exacerbating a long-standing crisis in U.S. primary care. In March 2020, the Larry A. Green Center for the Advancement of Primary Health Care for the Public Good launched a survey series of primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants/associates, and other specialists. Analyzing both quantitative and open-ended responses over 2 years of the survey, which drew 32,817 responses from 8,100 respondents in every state, the authors report on clinicians’ concerns and propose a sweeping package of policy reforms to strengthen U.S. primary care practice. The findings showed severe staff shortages, financial stress, difficulty providing accessible care, challenges in sustaining telehealth, and mental exhaustion due to the growing patient burdens in mental health, untreated chronic disease, and acute care delays. These data support the 2021 recommendations on primary care by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, including expansion of population-based payment models. The authors also recommend immediate establishment of a Federal Emergency Primary Care Support Fund.

Primary care physician leaders' perspectives on opportunities and challenges in healthcare leadership: a qualitative study

Stephenson, A.L., Sullivan, E.E., & Hoffman, A.R. Primary care physician leaders' perspectives on opportunities and challenges in healthcare leadership: a qualitative study. BMJ Lead. 2023;7(1):28-32. doi:10.1136/leader-2022-000591

Engaging Physicians in Leadership: Motivations, Challenges, and Identity-Based Considerations

Sullivan, E.E., Stephenson, A.L., & Hoffman, A.R. (2022). Engaging Physicians in Leadership: Motivations, Challenges, and Identity-Based Considerations. Pubmed.gov.

Building Improvement Capacity to Create Strong, Effective Primary Care Teams in Community Health Centers

Dwiel, K., Weilnau, T., Hunt, L., Azzara, J., Phillips, R., & Sullivan, E. (2019). Building Improvement Capacity to Create Strong, Effective Primary Care Teams in Community Health Centers. Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety.

Culture: The Unexpected Key to Exemplary Primary Care. Journal of Organizational Psychology

Sullivan, E. E., Arabadjis, S., Alpert, J., Ellner, A. (2018). Culture: The Unexpected Key to Exemplary Primary Care. Journal of Organizational Psychology, 18(5), 108-120.

Navigating Change at Alaska's Southcentral Foundation. North American Case Research Journal

Sullivan, E. E., & Alpert J.L., (2017). Navigating Change at Alaska's Southcentral Foundation. North American Case Research Journal, 36(4).

Management lessons for high-functioning primary care teams. Journal of Healthcare Management

Sullivan, E. E., Ibrahim, Z., Ellner, A., & Giesen, L. (2016). Management lessons for high-functioning primary care teams. Journal of Healthcare Management, 61(6), 449-465.

The Camden Coalition of Healthcare Providers: Weighing Opportunity with Capacity

Case Study
Arabadjis, S., Ibrahim, Z. & Sullivan, E. E. (2016). The Camden Coalition of Healthcare Providers: Weighing Opportunity with Capacity (A). Boston, MA, USA: Harvard Medical School Center for Primary Care.

Qliance Management Inc: Pioneers in Opportunity and Scale

Case Study
Alpert, J. & Sullivan, E. E. (2016). Qliance Management Inc: Pioneers in Opportunity and Scale. Boston, MA, USA: Harvard Medical School Center for Primary Care.

A design thinking approach to evaluating interprofessional education

Cahn, P. S., Bzowyckyj, A., Collins, L., Dow, A., Goodell, K., Johnson, A. F., Klocko, D., Knab, M., Parker, K., Reeves, S., & Zierler, B. K. (2016). A design thinking approach to evaluating interprofessional education. Journal of Interprofessional Care, 30(3), 378-380.

Strong patient-provider relationships drive healthier outcomes

Sullivan, E. E. & Ellner, A. (2015). Strong patient-provider relationships drive healthier outcomes. Harvard Business Review.

Martin’s Point Health Care-Bangor: Pioneers in a Landscape of Constant Change

Case Study
Ibrahim, Z. & Sullivan, E. E. (2015). Martin’s Point Health Care-Bangor: Pioneers in a Landscape of Constant Change. Boston, MA, USA: Harvard Medical School Center for Primary Care.

Human Systems for Southcentral Foundation’s Nuka System of Care (A)

Case Study
Sullivan, E. E., & Hufstader, T. (2015). Human Systems for Southcentral Foundation’s Nuka System of Care (A). Boston, MA, USA: Harvard Medical School Center for Primary Care.

Behavioral Health and Financing for Southcentral Foundation’s Nuka System of Care (B)

Case Study
Sullivan, E. E., Hufstader, T., & Arabadjis, S. (2015). Behavioral Health and Financing for Southcentral Foundation’s Nuka System of Care (B). Boston, MA, USA: Harvard Medical School Center for Primary Care.