• Hannah L Maxey, Connor W Norwood, and Donald L Weaver.
• From the Department of Family Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis (HLM, CWN); the Bowen Center for Health Workforce Research and Policy, Indianapolis, IN (HLM, CWN); and the National Association of Community Health Centers, Bethesda, MD (DLW). hlmaxey@iupui.edu.
• J Am Board Fam Med. 2017 Jul 1; 30 (4): 491-504.

IntroductionIntegrating oral health care and primary care is a priority for improving population health. Primary care physicians (PCP) are filling expanded roles within oral health care to secure strong overall health for their patients.MethodsThis comparative case study examines the roles of PCPs at 5 federally qualified health centers that have integrated oral health care and primary care. Administrative data were obtained directly from the Health Resources and Services Administration. Key informant interviews were performed with administrators and clinical care team members at each of the health centers. Data were reviewed by 2 experts in oral health to identify emerging roles for physicians.ResultsPPCPs' roles in health centers' integration models vary, but 3 distinct roles emerged: (1) the physician as a champion, (2) the physician as a collaborator, and (3) the physician as a member of an interprofessional team. In addition, providing physicians with the necessary training to identify oral health issues was critical to preparing physicians to take on expanded roles in integrated health care delivery models.ConclusionsRegardless of the roles that they play, family physicians can contribute a great deal to the success of integration models.© Copyright 2017 by the American Board of Family Medicine.

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