Evaluating Transformation across Healthcare Homes

• In Event: 453 - Section on Sociological Practice and Public Sociology Paper Session. Practicing Public Sociology

Abstract

This paper illustrates theoretically-informed evaluation within a health care initiative. It examines whether effective program implementation can be characterized as a configurational fit of three elements: (1) transforming a program (in this case, a health care clinic’s) institutional logics to be consistent with program-specific structures and processes; (2) implementing core program-specific functions; and (3) implementing measurement and management processes to become a mature learning organization. The paper introduces literature review which guided the development of a novel interview instrument, describes administration of the interview instrument in clinics eligible to be "HCHs", and analyses and reports the results of the interviews to provide an overarching description of variation in program implementation across sites. The goal of the paper is to highlight core theoretical underpinnings of evaluation design which may be capable of improving understanding of program implementation and change in a variety of organizational settings. The paper presents hypotheses for evaluation of program implementation as well as a tool kit for designing evaluations with an eye to organizational transformation.

Authors

• Brittin Wagner, University of Minnesota

• Douglas R. Wholey, University of Minnesota

• Katie White, University of Minnesota