Patience & partnership. Health systems cultivate two ingredients to create healthier communities.

With most health care reform proposals calling for a reconfigured delivery system aimed at making health status improvements, the ability to form provider/community partnerships may become a core capability for providers in communities of all types. But a number of barriers must continually be faced, including lack of trust, crumbling infrastructures, scarcity of funding, cultural issues, and others. A look at the "hows" and "whys" behind this crucial area for provider initiatives.