Journal of public health management and practice : JPHMP
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J Public Health Manag Pract · Nov 2012
Topology of local health officials' advice networks: mind the gaps.
To determine how a health officials' advice network might contribute to a high-performing public health systems by facilitating diffusion of innovation and best practices. ⋯ Communication between peers may not be the primary way professional information diffuses among local health officials. National groups involved in performance improvement may wish to consider strategies to increase the diffusion of best practices and innovations through this network.
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J Public Health Manag Pract · Nov 2012
Assessment of workforce capacity for Local Health Departments in Nebraska: a perspective from public health programmatic areas.
This study assessed the workforce capacity of Nebraska Local Health Departments (LHDs) from the perspective of public health programmatic areas. DESIGN AND OUTCOMES MEASURES: We conducted a mail survey of 21 LHD directors in Nebraska and collected the information on LHD workforce capacity, training, and competency by public health programmatic areas (eg, environmental health, mental health). An FTE shortage index score for each public health programmatic area was calculated to estimate an LHD's current shortage in that area. Spearman correlation analysis was conducted to examine the relationships between LHD capacity, manpower shortage, and staff training and competency. ⋯ The identified shortage areas should be a high priority for federal and state policy makers to address through developing appropriate strategies and providing adequate funding for LHD workforce development in Nebraska. Using the public health programmatic area approach to collect workforce data may help fill some gaps in the current efforts of LHD workforce enumeration. Future research is needed to examine the validity and reliability of the workforce measures based on public health programmatic areas.
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J Public Health Manag Pract · Sep 2012
Collaborative capacity building in complex community-based health partnerships: a model for translating knowledge into action.
Partnerships among multiple organizations across a range of sectors that bring together multiple perspectives are a common way of addressing community health and building capacity. To function successfully, partnerships depend on the careful orchestration of a collaborative culture and the facilitation of collective action. ⋯ Seventeen published models of collaborative capacity building met the inclusion criteria and were combined to derive a matrix that could guide the actions of those responsible for partnership management. This matrix may make the process of developing partnerships less complicated in future.
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J Public Health Manag Pract · Jul 2012
The health law partnership: adding a lawyer to the health care team reduces system costs and improves provider satisfaction.
Addressing the legal issues of patients of low socioeconomic status can be useful in increasing organizational reimbursements, reducing costs and improving access to care. Medical-legal partnership is an addition to the health care armamentarium that directly addresses this goal. ⋯ The Health Law Partnership is one such medical legal partnership that provides a holistic, interdisciplinary approach to health care. An evaluation of the legal and educational services provided by Health Law Partnership showed that Health Law Partnership secured otherwise unreimbursed Medicaid payments for services over a 4-year period from 2006 to 2010, increased physician satisfaction, and saved hospital employers approximately $10 000 in continuing education costs annually.