Partnerships of the Future

ObjectivesTo explore how partnerships among private, nonprofit, and public organizations can be instrumental in addressing 21st century health care challenges.Data SourcesPeer-reviewed studies and guidelines, journal articles, books, websites, and personal communication.ConclusionGiven the complexity of the health care environment and the need to transform the system, individuals and organizations will need to form partnerships that result in improved quality of care and decreased cost. Some recent initiatives have been successful and are included in this article.Implications for Nursing PracticeIn many communities and at the national level, there are agencies and organizations that are working independently, yet they have overlapping goals and the same intent. They compete for the same financial and human resources whether in academia, the care delivery sector, or non-profit associations. In the cancer care world, interprofessional teams are essential, yet much care is still delivered in silos. There are redundant patient advocacy organizations even for some of the less common cancers. Partnerships and collaboration will take new forms and require new skill sets in the future.