Hepler C D
Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond 23298.
Am J Hosp Pharm. 1988 Mar;45(3):554-60.
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.
本文讨论了项目评估的重要性，并确定了在重组医疗保健环境中设计和开展项目评估时需要考虑的问题。开展项目评估的目的是为个别组织的特定决策提供支持。与科学研究不同，项目评估将时间视为一种限制因素，其受众是管理人员。考虑到在管理式医疗时代成为固定费用承包商或雇员的可能性，专业人员必须努力理解管理的成本目标；同样，管理人员也必须理解专业人员的患者护理目标。项目评估有助于提供有关项目对医疗保健结果影响的必要文件，这会影响护理的总成本。成功的项目评估需要精心规划，并描述了与规划过程中六个步骤相关的问题：确定评估目标、选择并界定要评估的项目、选择指标变量、设计评估、呈现结果以及规划后续跟进。虽然项目评估常常被从负面角度理解，尤其是将其视为因外部压力而进行的事情，但它与日常运营管理或制定长期计划一样，都是管理的一部分。
