Most of us would prefer to steer clear of the doctor’s office even if we know we really should go, let alone show up there for no good reason. But some Medicaid clients — hundreds of them, apparently — just can’t seem to stay away.

That’s where Team Care — a state program to help the clients avoid overusing the health-care system — is busy making a dent.

The program requires healthy people who make unnecessary trips to the doctor for Medicaid services to choose just one doctor and one pharmacist to manage their health care. It also requires enrollees to call Nurse First, a 24-7 advice line, before seeking non-emergency care. After a year, participants are assessed to see if they are ready to “graduate” and return to the regular Medicaid system.

Team Care officials stress that clients in the program don’t lack professional care, but do learn how to use medical services for effectively.

The program, only a year old, is doubling its enrollment to 600 people. According to its records, Team Care has reduced its members’ doctor visits by more than 20 percent, a big savings in taxpayer money and physicians’ time.

Now if they only had a program for those of who can’t stay away from the dentist.