The community tracking study: a focus on change in the health care system.

Recognizing that health care delivery is predominantly local, the Center for Studying Health System Change is investigating what is happening in health care financing and delivery at the community level. The Community Tracking Study focuses on changes in the health care system in 60 sites that are representative of the nation. Twelve of these communities are being studied intensively. The 48 additional communities studied less intensively will permit generalization to the nation as a whole and analysis of the relationship between health system characteristics and the effects of change on people. Data collection and analysis for the Community Tracking Study are planned in two-year cycles. The first cycle, which began in spring of 1996, will establish a baseline.