Community Care Networks: Linking Vision to Outcomes for Community Health Improvement

Abstract

This article examines the relationship between progress toward the Community Care Network (CCN) vision and "intermediate outcomes" of 25 community-based health partnerships (CCNs). Specific components of the CCN vision were community accountability, community health focus, creation of a seamless service continuum, and managing under limited resources. Four community outcome dimensions were evaluated: access, cost, health, and quality of service delivery integration. Overall progress toward the CCN vision was significantly positively related to average intermediate outcome score and most highly correlated with two dimensions: access and quality of service integration. Qualitative analysis suggests that CCN sites accomplished the most along two dimensions--access and health--noting that intermediate health outcomes generally were in health assessment and information rather than actual health status improvement. Keys to outcome achievement appear to be (1) clearly focused intervention; (2) explicit, ongoing outcome measurement; and (3) strong integration of separate intervention components.

Indicators and Measurement Tools for Health Systems Integration: A Knowledge Synthesis

“…Most instruments are questionnaires and were created or tested in a health care setting or with health-related outcomes. Intersectoral coordination is captured by variables such as: connections between partnering organizations [47484950]; social networks [5152]; interagency linkages [53545556]; depth of integration [5758]; and level of system integration and change [59]. Morrissey et al 1994 [51] developed two instruments appropriate for this domain.…”

Exploring the Effect of Network Governance Models on Health-Care Systems Performance

“…Provan and Milward's (1995) seminal article focuses on the performance of mental disease networks, and this framework was later replicated by Vollenberg, Raab, and Kenis (2007) in a similar context. Conrad, Cave, and Lucas (2003) examined the relationship between progress and the Community Care Network vision, and their outcomes highlight the importance of clearly focused intervention; explicit, ongoing outcome measurement; and strong integration of separate intervention components.…”

Comparing Determinants of Effective Collaboration in a Comprehensive Crime Reduction Initiative

“…Resource munificence or resource availability shows that when collaborations have access to stable funding and other resources, like training and technical assistance, they are better at delivering services and meeting stated goals than collaborations that operate within an unstable resource environment (Agranoff & McGuire, 2001;Conrad et al, 2003;Provan & Milward, 1995;Shortell et al, 2002). Resources allow partnerships to focus on their main goals, rather than spending the majority of their time on stabilizing funding and securing other assistance.…”