Psychiatric affiliations between community hospitals and university programs. Transcending the difficulties.

The community-based general hospital is increasingly utilized as a clinical training site for psychiatric education. Are such affiliations taken for granted by university departments? Only by careful review of the governance structure and motivations for such affiliations can a successful program be developed. Such affiliations need not be "taken for granted." Ongoing flexibility and communication will foster mutual respect between the clinical faculty within the community hospital and the university department. A case example is provided to demonstrate such a process.