Economic aspects of clinical decision making: evaluating clinical programs.

The importance of program evaluation is discussed, and issues to consider when designing and conducting program evaluations in the restructuring health-care environment are identified. Program evaluation is carried out for the purpose of supporting specific decisions for individual organizations. Unlike scientific research, program evaluation accepts time as a constraint, and its audience is composed of managers. Considering the likelihood of being fixed-dollar contractors or employees in an era of managed care, professionals must try to understand the cost objectives of management; similarly, managers must understand the patient-care objectives of professionals. Program evaluation can help provide the necessary documentation of a program's impact on the outcome of health care, which influences the total cost of care. Successful program evaluation requires careful planning, and issues related to six steps in the planning process are described: defining the objective of the evaluation, choosing and defining the program to be evaluated, choosing indicator variables, designing the evaluation, presenting the results, and planning follow-through. While program evaluation is too often understood in negative terms, particularly as something done because of external pressure, it is as much a part of management as is directing day-to-day operations or developing a long-range plan.