Telelearning in a partnership between a university faculty and a regional health authority: benefits, challenges and strategies

The University of Calgary's Faculty of Medicine and the Calgary Regional He alth Authority understand that telehealth is an evolving field requiring bo th academic enquiry and operational readiness. Both parties are committed t o quality educational programmes-the Faculty through its commitment to exce llence and the Authority with its charge to maintain and enhance such progr ammes. There are shared applications, multi-learner user groups, shared str ategies to overcome distances and shared infrastructure - technologies, com munication pathways and resources. Having embarked on a joint telelearning venture, we have learned a number of lessons. Central to progress has been an appreciation and respect for unique mandates, a spirit of trust and flex ibility, an agreement on a set of principles, ongoing communication between ana participation from the users and, at times, redirection. Questions bei ng answered include the following. How well is this collaborative model wor king? How functional is it at this time of health reform and restructuring: , Can one meet complementary telelearning goals within a faculty-health aut hority relationship? These all have implications for future success.