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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Eunice King, PhD, Research and Evaluation, Independence Foundation, 200 S. Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19102, 215-985-4009, Eking@Independencefoundation.org

In 1993, the Independence Foundation, a private philanthropy located in Philadelphia, PA, began funding nurse-managed health centers in the Philadelphia region and has remained a major source of private funding for many of the area centers. A 10 year retrospective, qualitative study of 10 grantee NMHCs that offered primary care was conducted to identify their challenges and strategies used to meet them. Data came from Foundation records and documents, interviews with center directors and staff and the National Nursing Centers' Consortium, and a focus group of center founders. A thematic analysis was conducted and a systems perspective was used to organize themes re: challenges and strategies emanating from within the socio-political environment, the local community, the center's parent organization, and the nursing center itself. The organizational affiliations of the 10 centers were representative of NMHCs nationwide. All served primarily low-income, minority, and often uninsured clients, many of whom suffered from chronic illnesses. As of 2003, one of the 10 centers had closed, another was no longer nurse-managed, four had established new organizational affiliations, and another was in the process of doing so. The results and lessons learned from this study will be presented and discussed within the context of present challenges and preparation for future ones.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to (
• Identify 6 challenges that faced the nurse-managed centers and (
• Describe a strategy used to address each of those challenges.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation