King County Healthcare Coalition
How to Build a Healthcare Coalition
This section of the Toolkit provides some practical tips for developing a Coalition Structure framework in your local area.
If your health jurisdiction is not undertaking this entire process, it will provide examples of the role your own organization may want to consider adopting for medical emergency preparedness and response activities.
GETTING ORGANIZED
The development of an internal public health team alone would not foster the desired results for the Healthcare Coalition. The inclusion, support and participation of key healthcare representatives are critical steps to ensure organizational and community-wide support for the initiative.
Keep in mind, this endeavor is not "owned" by Public Health, but more so, it is facilitated by Public Health and belongs to the healthcare community. It is important that healthcare representatives are being invited to participate by their healthcare peers.
Be sure that the structure you are proposing to your partners is:
- Transparent - a structure that is transparent and intuitive from a communication and coordination standpoint
- Diverse - a structure that has representation across all types or organizations and priorities in the healthcare arena
- Strategic - a structure that supports the priorities and systems that are being developed
PREPARING THE TEAM
Public Health - Seattle & King County elected to develop an Interim Steering Committee to help encourage development of the Coalition and to shape the governing Executive Council. Key healthcare executives were interested in the development of the Coalition and served on the Interim Steering Committee to set initial direction and create a foundation for a successful structure.
The interim steering committee allowed us the time to create momentum around the coalition with executive leadership. It also allowed us to identify key leaders within different types of organizations that have genuine support and interest in Healthcare Coalition work.
Planning time was well spent carefully defining the framework of the Healthcare Coalition to promote a structure that would be inclusive and enduring.
