Abstract
In 2017, the National Institute of Public Health in Cambodia collaborated with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to provide management and leadership training for 20 managers and senior staff from 10 health centers. We conducted a mixed methods evaluation of the program's outcomes and impact on the graduates and health centers. From June 2018 (baseline) to January 2019 (endpoint), we collected data from a competency assessment, observational visits, and interviews. From baseline to endpoint, all 20 participants reported increased competence in seven management areas. Comparing baseline and endpoint observational visits, we found improvements in leadership and governance, health workforce, water, sanitation, and hygiene, and health centers' use of medical products and technologies. When evaluating the improvements made by participants against the World Health Organization's key components of a well-functioning health system, the program positively contributed toward building four of the six components—leadership and governance, health information systems, human resources for health, and service delivery. While these findings are specific to the context of Cambodian health centers, we hope this evaluation adds to the growing body of research around the impact of skilled public health management on health systems.
Highlights
As a complex adaptive system, health care and health systems demand competent managers and transformational leaders throughout its organizations to optimize health outcomes
This paper will assess evaluation findings from the Improving Public Health Management for Action (IMPACT) Cambodia program and evaluate these findings against the World Health Organization’s (WHO) key components of a well-functioning health system (Table 1). While these findings are specific to the context of Cambodian health centers, we hope this evaluation adds to the growing body of research around the impact of skilled public health management on health systems
Through observational visits and interviews, we found that participants applied what they learned from the program
Summary
As a complex adaptive system, health care and health systems demand competent managers and transformational leaders throughout its organizations to optimize health outcomes. Frontline health managers are often overlooked in health systems strengthening research and practice, they directly influence the health care workers and the operational levels of the health care system responsible for delivering products and services to the population [1]. In an effort to improve coverage and the quality of health care services, the Government of Cambodia introduced health care reform in 1995, classifying the public health system into national and provincial levels. Health centers play an integral role in the Cambodian health system, providing frontline health services to the public; each health center provides basic primary care services to populations of 8,000 to 10,000 persons. Health centers receive feedback and overall guidance from the community through a health center management committee (HCMC) and are under the management and supervision of the operational district [2]. The health center chief operationalizes health policy from national and sub-national levels to support health center staff and the communities they serve
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
