Recorded presentation

Janice K. Janken, PhD, RN¹, Vanessa P. Norton, BSN, RN¹, William K. Cody, RN, PhD², Carolyn K. Maynard, PhD, CS, FNP³, and D. Michelle Carr, RN, BSN⁴. (1) Family and Community Nursing, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 9201 University City Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28223, 704-687-4685, jkjanken@uncc.edu, (2) Department of Family & Community Nursing, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 9201 University City Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28223, (704) 687-4683, wkcody@email.uncc.edu, (3) Department of Family and Community Nursing, University of North Carolina Charlotte, 9201 University City Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28223, (4) Nursing Center for Health Promotion, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 9201 University City Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28223

In healthcare evaluation, emphasis is placed on demonstrating that client outcomes are impacted. This poses challenges for those who provide healthcare for homeless persons since data are more difficult to collect on mobile populations. Consequently, healthcare for homeless people often is evaluated by process rather than outcome indicators. This paper describes the method by which an outcomes-based evaluation plan was developed for a nursing center that serves homeless women and children. The center, staffed primarily by nurse practitioners and nurses, logs nearly 6,000 healthcare visits per year. Healthy People 2010 served as the conceptual framework for selecting program objectives. Healthy People 2010 was reviewed to identify objectives related to the health problems most commonly seen at the nursing center. Then, for each selected objective, the literature was reviewed to identify operational definitions for the goal used in outcomes research as well as applicable state-of-the-science standards of care for attaining the goal. This information then was reviewed by clinicians to provide reality checks on what care was feasible along with what outcomes could realistically be measured and by academicians with expertise in program evaluation. Together, they pared down program objectives, developed intervention protocols based on state-of-the-science standards of care, and arrived at operational definitions for outcome assessment. Finally, MedServices, patient tracking software for free medical clinics, was adapted to capture outcome variables in custom-designed fields. The example of moving from Healthy People 2010 objectives about diabetes to protocols for healthcare based on national standards and client outcome measures will be shared.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe a process of using Healthy People 2010 as a framework for healthcare program development and evaluation.
• Describe how health outcomes can be measured effectively in a transient, homeless population.

Keywords: Homeless Health Care, Outcome Measures

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation