Hospitals face growing pressure to address concerns such as capacity limitations, workforce shortages, and continuity of care. Many of these challenges extend beyond hospital walls. Community health partnerships may help address these challenges.

When designed with clear goals and strong coordination, partnerships address problems at scale, improving patient outcomes and access to care.

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Clinical Partnerships Address Health System Needs

Hospital–community partnerships become most valuable when they address a specific operational problem. These partnerships share three key traits:

• Clear roles: Each partner understands responsibilities
• Shared goals: Teams align on measurable outcomes
• Operational focus: Programs solve real system challenges

The case studies below show how two health systems used partnerships to address critical gaps:

• Capacity constraints: Expanding care beyond hospital walls
• Workforce shortages: Building a sustainable nursing pipeline

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University of Utah Health addressed a common challenge: how to safely transition patients out of the hospital.

The Solution

Originally, the hospital wanted to operationalize a hospital-at-home program, but there were too many limitations, such as IT support. Compiling data for that program sparked the idea for the Heal at Home transition-of-care program.

"We asked orthopedic surgeons, 'What if a nurse or therapist could see your patient in their home within two to three hours, instead of the next day?'" Hernandez said. "The surgeons were on board and excited about the possibility."

Hernandez and the team partnered with a trusted home health agency to support patients post-discharge. They developed post-surgical protocols for clinicians to deliver rapid, in-home follow-up care for orthopedic patients.

The Impact

The program delivered positive outcomes:

• Improved patient experience: "95% of patients say they would recommend the program to a friend or family member," says Hernandez.
• Reduced length of stay: The program shortened stays for post-surgical patients by two days.
• Increased capacity: The system saved 556 bed days in 2024.
• Program expansion: There are now 22 programs including orthopedics, maternity, emergency room, and liver transplant.

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Sierra View Medical Center (SVMC) in California faced a different issue: a workforce shortage.

The Solution

SVMC partnered with Unitek College to build a succession pathway: School in a Box.

"Through our partnership, we can remove access barriers for local and internal candidates by offering a three-year BSN degree right on campus," Hudson-Covolo said.

SVMC recruited from their own employees for the first two cohorts, and each class had a maximum of 15 students. The program provided scholarships or tuition reimbursement to help participants pursue their degrees.

The Impact

The School in a Box program delivered measurable results:

• Expanded access: Many of the students had been on waiting lists for state schools. "The program helped them realize a dream they thought they'd never get to," Hudson-Covolo explained.
• Increased internal mobility: Current employees across departments could attend nursing school while still working in the hospital.
• Improved retention: "We were a revolving door for graduates, and I needed to stabilize that. We believed nurses with a commitment to the community would stay," notes Hudson-Covolo.
• Sustained demand: Waiting lists extended across multiple cohorts.
• Training outcomes: Nine of the 15 students from Cohort 1 graduate in April 2026. Thirteen of the 15 students in Cohort 2 are on track to graduate later this year.

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How to Develop a Health System–Community Partnership

The case studies demonstrate that health systems can build effective community partnerships by following a clear, structured approach. Use these steps to build a partnership that addresses a specific operational need:

1. Identify the pain point: Hudson-Covolo recommends starting with an assessment. What problem are you trying to solve? How will overcoming this challenge help the hospital, community, and patients? Defining the challenge will help you find the ideal partner.
2. Select partners: Partnership identification comes after you've identified the problem. "Find a partner that is a good fit for your organization and for the program you want to develop. You want to develop that relationship, that partnership, early on," says Hudson-Covolo.
3. Bring in decision-makers early: Whether it's an informal steering group or a formal governance structure, identify people who can make decisions in real time.
4. Get buy-in from stakeholders: If you're creating a program that will impact nurses, collaborate with the nursing staff so they can contribute their expertise to the program development.
5. Anticipate challenges: "Organizations have a long lead time on IT support so be prepared for that. You might need to source equipment or find staff. Be resourceful and flexible in addressing these potential barriers," says Hernandez.
6. Focus on outcomes: Develop your benchmarks and measure what executives care about, such as length of stay, bed days, and retention.
7. Get started: "Try it. If you need advice, reach out. We'd be happy to share our experiences," says Hernandez.

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What's Next for Community Health Partnerships

Clinical partnerships are not one-size-fits-all. They work best when they start with a clear need — whether easing pressure on hospital capacity, improving care after discharge, or building a stronger workforce.

The case studies show that meaningful change does not always require starting from scratch. Sometimes, it comes from working differently with existing partners. With the right structure and shared goals, partnerships can improve patient care while helping hospitals operate more effectively.

As partnerships mature, they can expand to new areas of care and reach more patients. A program that begins with post-surgical support can grow into broader home-based care. A workforce initiative can evolve into a long-term pipeline that supports an entire system. Over time, these efforts can help improve access, reduce strain on staff, and strengthen connections between hospitals and the communities they serve.

Looking to improve patient outcomes and clinical performance across your organization? RQI Partners works with health systems to implement evidence-based programs that strengthen care delivery and drive measurable results. Explore RQI programs.

To learn more about Heal at Home, listen to Episode 1 of the In the Heart of Care Podcast — The Lifeline: Bringing the Hospital Home.