Test Yourself

While shared understandings are important, having formal documents, such as MOUs that articulate the shared goals, vision and roles of collaboration enable effective and sustainable collaborations.

Public health has more of an upstream focus while primary care tends to focus on the concerns of individual patients. Supportive structures and planning processes are needed to help bridge what some practitioners and administrators might seem to be insurmountable barriers to collaboration.

Selling the collaboration widely and have buy-in, that is, acceptance or understanding of collaboration, is an enabler for effective collaborations. Clear mandates, vision, and goals for collaboration are fostered when there is buy- in and/or understanding of collaboration at all levels in the organizations. To get buy- in, communicate the vision and benefits of collaboration to all parties, including the clients and the population to whom you provide service.

Well functioning Health Authorities can achieve population health goals with better care of individuals through traditional public health programs and innovative projects where public health and primary care work together.