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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Mary A Paterson, PhD, Abt Associates Inc., Suite 600, 4800 Montgomery Lane, Bethesda, MD 20814 and Sara Bennett, PhD, Abt Associates Inc, 4800 Montgomery Lane, Bethesda, MD 20814, 301-913-0500, mary_paterson@abtassoc.com.
What can we learn from pilot projects in health systems strengthening?
Learning Objectives At the conclusion to this session participants will be able to: 1.Recognize the circumstances under which it makes sense to use a pilot approach to health system reform. 2.Identify the most important aspects of designing and implementing a health system pilot and how these vary with the objectives of the pilot.
Abstract Pilot projects are defined as the testing of a particular approach on a small scale to determine its chances for success if implemented on an expanded basis (Grindle, 1980, pp132). Health care pilot projects have been designed to test many aspects of health system change including payment systems, new clinical strategies, cooperative financing schemes, regulatory strategies, and management improvements. Information from health reform pilot projects has been used to support expansion, redesign, or abandonment of the approach. This paper synthesizes the key lessons learnt from experience about the conditions under which pilot projects are an appropriate means to further health reform, and how pilot projects can be designed to respond best to alternative objectives and context. An extensive literature review of health system pilots in developing or transitional countries that have occurred within the last decade was undertaken. In-depth interviews with key informants representing a sample of pilot schemes were then completed. Findings from the study provide insights into when pilot strategies should be used, and what is currently known about how best to design, implement and evaluate pilots.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Health Reform, Developing Countries
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.