The view from the horizon: strategic partnerships of public health, academic medical centers, and managed care.
The organization and operation of public health departments must change if they are to participate in the evolving health system. Strategic partnerships with academic medicine, academic medical centers, and managed care organizations offer an opportunity to establish and sustain these new roles. A rationale for collaboration and description of the assets each organization contributes to the partnership is described. The experience of the authors in developing such strategic partnerships and other examples from across the country is presented.