TY - JOUR
T1 - Measuring the authority of local public health directors in the context of organizational structure
T2 - An exploratory, multimodal approach
AU - Gearin, Kimberly J.Miner
AU - Thrash, Allison M.Rick
AU - Frauendienst, Renee
AU - Myhre, Julie
AU - Gyllstrom, M. Elizabeth
AU - Riley, William J.
AU - Schroeder, Janelle
PY - 2012/11/1
Y1 - 2012/11/1
N2 - Context: Studies have reported a relationship between the organization of public health services and variability in public health practice at the local and state levels. A national research agenda has prioritized practice-based research to understand pathways that lead to this variation and examine the impact of these differences on outcomes. Objectives: To measure the extent to which Minnesota local health directors report having key authorities and examine the relationship between organizational structure and authority of local health directors. Design: Multimodal. Setting: Minnesota local health departments. PARTICIPANTS:: Directors of Minnesota local health departments. Main Outcome Measure(S):: Director authorities. Results : Most Minnesota local health directors reported having 6 key authorities related to budget preparation and modification and interaction with local elected officials (n = 51, 71%). Twelve directors (16%) reported that they have 4 or fewer of the 6 authorities. The authority most commonly reported as lacking was the authority to initiate communication with locally elected officials (n = 15, 21%). The percentage of directors who reported having all 6 authorities was higher among those in stand-alone departments (82%) than those in combined organizations (50%). Conclusions : This descriptive study illustrates that emerging practice-based research networks can successfully collaborate on small-scale research projects with immediate application for systems development. Study findings are being used by local public health officials to help articulate their role, aid in succession planning, and inform elected officials, who need to consider the public health implications of potential changes to local public health governance and organization. More studies are needed to refine measurement of authority and structure.
AB - Context: Studies have reported a relationship between the organization of public health services and variability in public health practice at the local and state levels. A national research agenda has prioritized practice-based research to understand pathways that lead to this variation and examine the impact of these differences on outcomes. Objectives: To measure the extent to which Minnesota local health directors report having key authorities and examine the relationship between organizational structure and authority of local health directors. Design: Multimodal. Setting: Minnesota local health departments. PARTICIPANTS:: Directors of Minnesota local health departments. Main Outcome Measure(S):: Director authorities. Results : Most Minnesota local health directors reported having 6 key authorities related to budget preparation and modification and interaction with local elected officials (n = 51, 71%). Twelve directors (16%) reported that they have 4 or fewer of the 6 authorities. The authority most commonly reported as lacking was the authority to initiate communication with locally elected officials (n = 15, 21%). The percentage of directors who reported having all 6 authorities was higher among those in stand-alone departments (82%) than those in combined organizations (50%). Conclusions : This descriptive study illustrates that emerging practice-based research networks can successfully collaborate on small-scale research projects with immediate application for systems development. Study findings are being used by local public health officials to help articulate their role, aid in succession planning, and inform elected officials, who need to consider the public health implications of potential changes to local public health governance and organization. More studies are needed to refine measurement of authority and structure.
KW - health director authority
KW - local health department
KW - local health department structure
KW - practice-based research
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U2 - 10.1097/PHH.0b013e31825fbbb3
DO - 10.1097/PHH.0b013e31825fbbb3
M3 - Article
C2 - 23023279
AN - SCOPUS:84867517858
SN - 1078-4659
VL - 18
SP - 545
EP - 550
JO - Journal of Public Health Management and Practice
JF - Journal of Public Health Management and Practice
IS - 6
ER -