Rural Health Clinic efficiency and effectiveness: insight from a nationwide survey.
This study reports the results of a nationwide survey of Rural Health Clinics (RHCs). The purpose was to identify factors that contribute to efficiency and effectiveness in RHCs. Factors related to cost efficiency were analyzed using multiple regression; factors related to the likelihood of providing preventive diabetic care, an effectiveness indicator, were analyzed using logistic regression. The study found: (1) technical efficiency to be positively related to cost efficiency; (2) non-profit control to be inversely related to cost efficiency in independent RHCs; and (3) provider-based RHCs and technology use to be related to the likelihood of providing preventive diabetic care. Implications for RHCs are: (1) improvement in technical efficiency could enhance cost efficiency; (2) visits to PAs and NPs, an indicator of process efficiency, may not guarantee the provision of preventive diabetic care; and (3) strategies for improving RHC efficiency and effectiveness may be different for provider-based and independent clinics.
Ortiz
Judith
J
University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA. jortiz2@cfl.rr.com
Meemon
Natthani
N
Tang
Chiung-Ya
CY
Wan
Thomas T H
TT
Paek
Seung Chun
SC
D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D019033:Delivery of Health Care, Integrated / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007256:Information Systems / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006278:Medicare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010346:Patient Care Management / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States