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Table 2 Systemic factors influencing public health and primary care collaboration

From: What systemic factors contribute to collaboration between primary care and public health sectors? An interpretive descriptive study

Factor [add row] Health service delivery structures

Element [add row] Infrastructure to support collaboration (e.g. Information Technology, physical space);

Opportunities for PC and PH to transcend silos (e.g. inter-branch/divisions/department committees);

Shared PC PH portfolios

Funding models and financial incentives

Increased/sufficient allocation of financial resources for collaboration;

Alignment of funding models and incentives for public health and primary care collaboration;

Potential strategies of funding collaboration (e.g., secondments, incentives, fee codes)

Governmental and regulatory policies and mandates for collaboration

Expectations that partners are essential;

Clear governmental policies, mandates for collaboration;

Consistency of standards around collaboration for public health and primary care;

Expectations/accountability for reporting on collaborations using common quality indicators

Power Relations

Leveling the playing field;

Turf protection

Harmonized Information and Communication Infrastructure

Clear and effective information and communication infrastructures;

Interoperable public health and primary care communication systems and electronic record systems (Electronic Medical Record; Electronic Health Records)

Formal Systems Leaders as Collaborative Champions

Identification and formalization of systems leaders;

Leadership for collaboration;

Long-term strategy for collaboration;

Leadership understanding of benefits of collaboration.

Targeted Professional Education:

Educating new professionals for collaboration between public health and primary care;

Continuous professional development for collaboration between public health and primary care