Regional Consortia: A Framework for Public Health Laboratory Collaboration and Service Sharing

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Laboratory Science
• Health Systems Management

Background:

• Public health laboratories (PHLs) are crucial for disease prevention, diagnostics, and environmental monitoring.
• PHLs face funding challenges, lacking dedicated federal support for core functions and infrastructure.
• Existing support from national programs is insufficient for comprehensive PHL operations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the evolution and practices of regional consortia formed by PHLs.
• To analyze the impact of these collaborations on PHL services and the national public health system.
• To highlight lessons learned from successful PHL partnerships.

Main Methods:

• Review of the background and development of regional consortia.
• Outline of consortia practices, activities, and collaborative approaches.
• Analysis of the positive effects on the national public health system.

Main Results:

• A significant increase in state participation in regional consortia from 13 to 48 between 2015 and 2020.
• Formalization of regional consortia as a 'community of practice' approach for PHLs.
• Strengthened partnerships and collaborations among PHLs to address regional priorities.

Conclusions:

• Regional consortia are an effective strategy for PHLs to enhance services and capabilities.
• Collaboration through consortia improves the resilience and effectiveness of the national public health system.
• The 'community of practice' model offers a sustainable solution to address PHL operational challenges.