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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Dean Montgomery, MSPH, Health Systems Agency of Northern Virginia, 7245 Arlington Boulevard, Suite 300, Falls Church, VA 22042, 703-573-3100, hsanv@aol.com

Community, Planning & Progress

Over the last two decades, planning for health services has become increasingly categorical and noticeably less communitarian. This results to a substantial degree from government—federal, state, and local—eliminating, or reducing, its support of public planning programs and initiatives. It also reflects, for good or ill, an associated underlying shift to greater reliance on unchecked economic incentives to guide the development and operations of health care services.

These changes pose substantial challenges for those who believe public involvement and community-based planning are important, if not essential, elements of an efficient, responsive, and equitable health care system.

This presentation will focus on ways and means of encouraging, supporting, and using community-based efforts to guide, and otherwise influence, the development and operation of local health services. Questions considered include:

· Distinguishing between markets and community; · Devising practical community-based planning processes and practices; · Marshalling data, information, and community intelligence in support of communitarian goals; · Using public programs and processes to influence private views and actions; and · Promoting system transparency through planning and regulation.

Learning Objectives:

• This presentation, and the ensuing discussion, should provide attendees a framework for viewing their community and its health care system from a more holistic, communitarian perspective;for identifying data and other community assets that will permit more effective planning and service development; for integrating and harmonizing local public and private interests; and for appreciating the value of transparency in health service development and operations.

Keywords: Community Health Planning, Public Policy

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No