Two Minnesota health providers are teaming up to fight childhood obesity and provide improved patient care.

HealthPartners, a nonprofit healthcare provider and insurer, and Children’s Hospital and Clinics of Minnesota announced Tuesday that they are launching joint educational initiatives and programs by which urban areas can better deal with the problem of childhood obesity.

The two organizations are also working to develop a standardized system for coordinating care such that scheduling follow-up appointments become easy after a child is seen at the emergency room at Children’s.

Through the improved patient care system, doctors at both organizations will be able to have a complete picture of what each child’s needs are. That in turn will enhance the continuity of the care they receive.

“Children’s is one of the top pediatric hospitals in the country,” said Mary Brainerd, HealthPartners president and CEO, in a news release. “These new efforts are consistent with our belief that by working together we can provide a higher quality of care at a more affordable cost — and that is so important for children and families in our community.”