Viewing Public Health Financail Information from a Different Perspective: Financial Ratio Analysis in Florida County Health Departments

Organizations use financial information from paying bills, to tracking expenditures/revenues, and comparing original budget planning to actual numbers reflecting the performance at large or subcomponents within the operation. Collecting data in public health is a routine practice but analyzing similar financial data even in similar reporting formats from like operations can vary extensively. Furthermore, the emphasis placed on financial information varies from program to program or among organizations making it hard to get comparative trends. A collaborative financial management survey was taken of various size county public health departments in Florida for a three year period and specific financial ratio analysis was applied to all participating counties in the same manner. Results indicate that trending the information over a period of time may prove valuable long term not only within a single state but eventually comparing to other county health departments nationwide for planning, sharing best practices or funding strategies. People and programs drive the success of public health in America, but finances sustain the process. Emphasis and improved financial accountability will stretch our dollars farther and possibly help pave a better path for driving preventive health further into our communities.