Robert R. Vogel, MPA, Sisters of Mercy Health System, 14528 S Outer 40, Ste. 100, Chesterfield, MO 63017-5743, 314-957-0495, rvogel@corp.mercy.net

As noted in the theme of this session, Certificate of Need (CON) regulation has been controversial since its inception in 1964. The debate over competition vs. regulation continues. As public policy evaluation of the best pathway to ensure access and quality as well as cost effectiveness continues, AHPA’s ePlanner can enable the depth and quality of this debate. ePlanner is a web enabled product that offers 1) a useful description of a range of community health planning and public policy related sites, 2) a summary of each site’s content and potential value, 3) timely maintenance of information on the sites, and 4) links to many of the evaluated sites. Participants will learn

• The details of concrete opportunities to enhance community-based, public and private planning efforts
• How a web-based tool can be used to enhance the health planning skills of public and private health professionals whose responsibilities encompass aspects of community-based health planning and evaluation of competition as a model, and
• How evaluations of community health planning and regulation versus competition can be enhanced by access to information and outcomes via the web

Learning Objectives:

• understand ePlanner design and functionality
• apply web enabled information tool to
• community health planning questions access relevant tools and models for problem solving

Keywords: Community Health Planning, Certificate of Need

Related Web page: www.ahpanet.org

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.