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Rural Health Information Hub

Establishing a Business Structure

While members of networks maintain their autonomy, there are a variety of ways they can organize themselves. The article The Challenges of Governing Public-Private Community Health Partnerships defines a governance structure as

“the collective process that promotes community accountability, partnership integration, and long-term viability of the network or coalition's vision.”

The type of governance structure adopted by a rural health network is largely determined by the network's function and activities. Networks fall under two large umbrellas of governance structures: unincorporated and incorporated. Each of these umbrellas has sub-categories:

  1. Unincorporated Networks and Coalitions
  2. Incorporated Networks and Coalitions