Impact Evaluation and Accountability
Health Care – Impact Evaluation and Accountability
Accountability to stakeholders should be an integral aspect of any health-related government program. Using a systematic and objective assessment of how a program's effectiveness, evaluation normally involves measuring and documenting a program's effectiveness; calculating a program's outcomes; documenting a program's execution and cost effectiveness; strengthening a program's impact. In the case of health-related government programs, the stakeholders to whom accountability is owed typically are those served by the program, those conducting the program, and those who will use evaluation findings to make decisions about the program. Obviously, the list of these stakeholders may be extensive, including but not limited to: patients, activists, program management, program staff, the public, taxpayers, and agencies that fund the program. The importance of evaluations for accountability is underscored by the resources provided by state and federal governments for ongoing evaluations to ensure ongoing accountability to all stakeholders.
Evaluation of a health-related government program can assist in determining accountability by pursuing one of two objectives, either process or outcome. Program accountability typically involves: measuring and documenting a program's effectiveness; calculating a program's outcomes; documenting a program's execution and cost effectiveness; and strengthening a program's impact. Evaluation for the purpose of accountability can assist in myriad ways, all of which ultimately assist in a health-related government program's continuation, refinement and impact.