Reid W M, Page D M, Cookro D V, Mason K P
Public Health Leadership Institute of Florida, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa 33612, USA.
Am J Prev Med. 1999 Apr;16(3 Suppl):128-33. doi: 10.1016/s0749-3797(98)00152-4.
Widespread changes in health care in the United States, especially the growth in the number and membership of health maintenance organizations (HMOs), provide increasing opportunities for collaboration, especially through contracts, between local health departments (LHDs) and HMOs to achieve public health goals.
(1) To identify, through a review of the literature, the areas in which HMOs and LHDs can collaborate to their mutual benefit and (2) for the leadership of an LHD in Florida to engage HMOs in its county in Florida in collaboration.
University faculty reviewed the relevant literature; the Director of Medical Services for the Duval County Health Department developed the relationships with Duval County HMOs.
The setting for the study was Duval County.
The participants in the study included faculty from the College of Public Health at the University of South Florida, State and county public health officials, and representatives of 10 HMOs.
The main outcome measures were a literature review to identify feasible areas for collaboration and successful collaboration with HMOs in areas of mutual interest.
The director of medical services for the county health department initiated a variety of collaborative activities with 10 HMOs. These led to agreements, participation on committees and task forces, provision of services, and improved communication.
Collaboration between LHDs and HMOs to achieve public health assurance goals is feasible. Other organizations can encourage such collaboration through public and private policies.
美国医疗保健领域的广泛变革，尤其是健康维护组织（HMO）数量和会员人数的增长，为地方卫生部门（LHD）与HMO之间通过合同等方式开展合作以实现公共卫生目标提供了越来越多的机会。
（1）通过文献回顾，确定HMO与LHD能够互利合作的领域；（2）让佛罗里达州一个地方卫生部门的领导层促使该州所在县的HMO参与合作。
大学教师回顾相关文献；杜瓦尔县卫生部门医疗服务主任与杜瓦尔县的HMO建立联系。
研究地点为杜瓦尔县。
研究参与者包括南佛罗里达大学公共卫生学院的教师、州和县级公共卫生官员以及10家HMO的代表。
主要结局指标是进行文献回顾以确定可行的合作领域，以及在共同感兴趣的领域与HMO成功开展合作。
县卫生部门的医疗服务主任与10家HMO开展了各种合作活动。这些活动带来了协议的达成、在委员会和特别工作组中的参与、服务的提供以及沟通的改善。
地方卫生部门与健康维护组织合作以实现公共卫生保障目标是可行的。其他组织可以通过公共和私人政策鼓励这种合作。
