| Abstrakt: |
Health department activities have had a significant impact upon health care delivery in Baltimore by means of a consortium process. Three corporations have been chartered. Previously unrelated groups of providers, educators, planners, and consumers have been convened at policy-making and working levels, not simply as blue-ribbon study committees. Careers in health education have been newly established in the public school system and the four-year state colleges, with linkages to community colleges and universities. Professional societies participate as equals of the other groups in a complex and difficult change process. Hospitals have expanded their ambulatory care activities, and extended their outreach either at the insistence of communities or with the encouragement of the health department. The medical society has become an interested and valuable participant in each of the corporations, and supports the general concept of necessary changes in health care delivery for a metropolitan area. Funding and planning support for the corporations has been sponsored by the health department, either by grants or by a bond issue based upon a new concept of community services. Although much of what has been accomplished by the Baltimore City Health Department has been in response to perceived opportunity, we believe that it is in the best tradition of public health, namely, that the department has acted to protect, promote, and maintain the health of the public through the organization of community efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
