Biomaterial Database

Improving the financial viability of primary care health centers. 1994

S A Finkler, and J R Knickman, and K L Hanson

Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, New York University 10012.

This article presents findings from a national demonstration program to improve the long-term financial viability of small not-for-profit primary care health centers. The program initiatives and their implementation are described in some detail. A standard pre/post study design was used to measure the impact of the initiatives on general outcome measures, financial ratios, and the utilization of management techniques. Overall, demonstration centers showed improvement over the study period. Notable short-term improvements included significant growth in the volume of patient visits and increased profit. Observed changes also revealed an increased use of sophisticated management techniques, expected to positively affect longer-term financial health. The findings suggest that improving the financial viability of health centers need not be expensive.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008330	Management Audit	Management review designed to evaluate efficiency and to identify areas in need of management improvement within the institution in order to ensure effectiveness in meeting organizational goals.	Operational Audit,Audit, Management,Audit, Operational,Audits, Management,Audits, Operational,Management Audits,Operational Audits
D010865	Pilot Projects	Small-scale tests of methods and procedures to be used on a larger scale if the pilot study demonstrates that these methods and procedures can work.	Pilot Studies,Pilot Study,Pilot Project,Project, Pilot,Projects, Pilot,Studies, Pilot,Study, Pilot
D011320	Primary Health Care	Care which provides integrated, accessible health care services by clinicians who are accountable for addressing a large majority of personal health care needs, developing a sustained partnership with patients, and practicing in the context of family and community. (JAMA 1995;273(3):192)	Primary Care,Primary Healthcare,Care, Primary,Care, Primary Health,Health Care, Primary,Healthcare, Primary
D011795	Surveys and Questionnaires	Collections of data obtained from voluntary subjects. The information usually takes the form of answers to questions, or suggestions.	Community Survey,Nonrespondent,Questionnaire,Questionnaires,Respondent,Survey,Survey Method,Survey Methods,Surveys,Baseline Survey,Community Surveys,Methodology, Survey,Nonrespondents,Questionnaire Design,Randomized Response Technique,Repeated Rounds of Survey,Respondents,Survey Methodology,Baseline Surveys,Design, Questionnaire,Designs, Questionnaire,Methods, Survey,Questionnaire Designs,Questionnaires and Surveys,Randomized Response Techniques,Response Technique, Randomized,Response Techniques, Randomized,Survey, Baseline,Survey, Community,Surveys, Baseline,Surveys, Community,Techniques, Randomized Response
D003151	Community Health Centers	Facilities which administer the delivery of health care services to people living in a community or neighborhood.	Neighborhood Health Centers,Satellite Centers,Center, Community Health,Center, Neighborhood Health,Center, Satellite,Centers, Community Health,Centers, Neighborhood Health,Centers, Satellite,Community Health Center,Health Center, Community,Health Center, Neighborhood,Health Centers, Community,Health Centers, Neighborhood,Neighborhood Health Center,Satellite Center
D005375	Financial Audit	An examination, review and verification of all financial accounts.	Audit, Financial,Audits, Financial,Financial Audits
D005381	Financing, Organized	All organized methods of funding.	Community Financing,Grants,Organized Financing,Financing, Community,Grant
D005582	Foundations	Organizations established by endowments with provision for future maintenance.	Foundation
D013192	Staff Development	The process by which the employer promotes staff performance and efficiency consistent with management goals and objectives.	Human Resources Development,Cross-Training, Employee,Cross Training, Employee,Development, Human Resources,Development, Staff,Employee Cross-Training,Resources Development, Human
D014481	United States	A country in NORTH AMERICA between CANADA and MEXICO.