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Curing and caring—A proposed method for self-assessment in primary care organizations

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Abstract

Key research in the area of quality assessment is reviewed and a method for periodic assessment in primary care organizations is proposed. The suggested approach is designed for administrative, rather than research, purposes. Therefore, it focuses on indicators that are both practical and realistic for use in periodic monitoring.

The proposed method is two-staged and includes both technical performance (curing) and satisfaction (caring). At the first level of evaluation, general areas of performance are examined; these are key performance indicators in prevention, diagnosis, and management of illness, and questionnaires dealing with the accessibility and acceptability of care, coupled with objective measures of satisfaction. Those areas of performance that are not up to management standards are then examined in greater detail at the second level of evaluation. Using this approach, organizations can build a longitudinal picture of performance and chart their progress annually.

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Authors
  1. Julianne R. Howell M.A.
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  2. Marian Osterweis Ph.D.
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  3. Robert R. Huntley M.D.
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Additional information

Ms. Howell, formerly an instructor in the Department of Community Medicine and International Health, Georgetown University School of Medicine, is now attending the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. Dr. Osterweis is Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine and International Health, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, D.C. 20007. Dr. Huntley is Professor and Chairman of that department. Reprint requests should be addressed to Dr. Osterweis. This work was supported in part by grant R18-HS-01040 from the National Center for Health Services Research.

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Howell, J.R., Osterweis, M. & Huntley, R.R. Curing and caring—A proposed method for self-assessment in primary care organizations. J Community Health 1, 256–275 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01324585

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