In this article
Identify the program and the people it serves
Ask which service line is hiring and where the role sits: a health center, rural clinic, school-based program, integrated primary-care practice, or another community service. Find out who the program serves, where care is delivered, and whether the job includes more than one location or population.
HRSA describes health centers as community-based providers that offer access to medical, dental, behavioral, and other services. That broad service range does not mean every position performs all of them. Ask what your own responsibilities would include and which colleagues provide other parts of care.
Map how the team shares care
Ask who receives referrals, who follows up, and how the team shares information when a person needs support from more than one discipline. Clarify who you would work with regularly and how the team resolves questions that cross clinical roles. If behavioral health is integrated with primary care, ask what integrated means in that specific program.
AHRQ’s shared-care-plan guidance describes clear team roles and goals as useful for coordination among primary care, behavioral health, substance-use, and other providers. Use that to ask practical questions about handoffs, follow-up, consultation, and communication. The local workflow matters more than the label used in a posting.
Confirm your role and scope
A community health team may include NPs, PAs, physicians, RNs, therapists, counselors, social workers, and care coordinators. Ask which discipline the employer is hiring, which responsibilities are essential, and where your role ends. Confirm the credentials and experience required for the position rather than assuming that broad interest in community care is enough.
If you are considering work outside your recent setting, ask what orientation, consultation, and clinical leadership are available. Discuss any role-specific requirements with the employer’s credentialing contact and check the applicable state standards. A clear division of work protects your own expectations and helps the team describe the position accurately.
Learn what the workweek looks like
Ask about patient-facing time, documentation, care coordination, group work, coverage, schedule, location, and any travel between sites. Find out how urgent questions are handled and how the team adjusts when a colleague is unavailable. Request a concrete example of a normal week and what changes during busy periods.
Clarify compensation and benefits, administrative support, technology, onboarding, and the expected hiring timeline. If a detail is still open, ask who will resolve it. These conditions can affect whether a community-focused role is a practical fit, even when the organization’s mission strongly appeals to you.
Connect the mission to your own priorities
Ask how clinicians contribute to program decisions, how team concerns are heard, and what professional development the employer supports. Think about what matters most to you: the patient population, collaboration, schedule, autonomy within the role, location, or the organization’s approach to care. Rank those priorities before comparing offers.
Before saying yes, summarize the work as you understand it and confirm that the employer agrees. Make sure the final description matches what you heard in interviews. If you want to explore permanent community-health roles, CTG can discuss your experience and conditions for a move before deciding whether an introduction makes sense.
Sources and further reading
Sources checked September 28, 2026
- HRSA — What Is a Health Center?Explains the community-based Health Center Program and its range of services.
- AHRQ — Develop a Shared Care PlanOffers guidance on role clarity and coordination across primary and behavioral health.