[This article was originally published in Healthcare Quarterly, Volume 11, Number 4.]

Background

The past decade has seen a growing trend in the establishment of partnerships between university-based researchers and non-university stakeholders. It is believed that these partnerships are better positioned to develop and conduct research projects that will have implications for improving healthcare practice and/or policy by aligning with stakeholders' priorities. Many of these initiatives have been driven by research funding agencies and health ministries across Canada. Despite an increased promotion of these partnerships, little effort has been made to document the strengths and challenges inherent to this model. One such initiative led to the creation of the British Columbia Alliance on Telehealth Policy and Research (BCATPR; http://www.bcatpr.ca), now in its third year of operation. This case study outlines the development and operation of BCATPR, with specific emphasis on the engagement process adopted, as well as the strengths and challenges associated with this model of university-based researchers and health authority (HA) policy makers partnership.

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