Workforce-Centered Health Practice Models In Emerging Medical Systems: A Narrative Review And Policy-Oriented Framework

Abstract

Emerging medical systems are undergoing rapid transformation due to demographic shifts, epidemiological changes, technological developments, and institutional reforms. The health workforce fulfills a pivotal role in determining system performance and resilience through its capacity, distribution, competencies, and well-being. Workforce-centered health practice models center on the workforce in care delivery design, emphasizing skills optimization, team-based practice, supportive work environments, and management structures that align with evolving service requirements.

This narrative review integrates global policy systems and contemporary evidence to develop a structured typology of workforce-centered health practice models appropriate to emerging medical systems. Drawing on international human resources strategies and peer-reviewed literature, five interrelated model domains are identified: skills-mix and task-sharing models; team-based integrated care models; digitally enabled workforce models; workforce well-being and retention-centered models; and workforce governance models. The paper proposes an implementation-oriented framework linking these models to measurable health system outcomes, including service coverage, quality, equity, efficiency, and workforce sustainability.

The findings show that workforce-centered models are not ancillary human resource interventions yet foundational mechanisms for health system strengthening. Embedding workforce considerations into care redesign is key to achieving sustainable, resilient, and high-performing medical systems in quickly evolving contexts.