Comparing approaches to regionalization through the Massachusetts PBRN

The Massachusetts Public Health Practice-based Research Network (PBRN) is developing initial research capacity for studying the effects of regionalization on public health service delivery and outcomes across the state. This network is organized by the practice arm of the Boston University School of Public Health and takes advantage of a natural experiment created by the state's effort to develop a regionalized organizational structure from its current 351 separate public health jurisdictions. Network participants include the state Department of Public Health, eight local health departments (LHDs) participating in a state regionalization work group, and representatives from key public health associations within the state. Research partners include faculty at the Boston University School of Public Health and the nonprofit Institute for Community Health. Initial research projects are designed to elucidate key factors that influence the implementation and impact of regionalized public health delivery models, and to compare the costs and consequences alternative approaches to regionalization.