[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 37 (Tuesday, February 25, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 8777]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-4313]



[[Page 8777]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection: 
Comment Request

    In compliance with the requirement for opportunity for public 
comment on proposed data collection projects (section 3506(c)(2)(A) of 
title 44, United States Code, as amended by the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995, Pub. L. 104-13), the Health Resources and Services 
Administration (HRSA) publishes periodic summaries of proposed projects 
being developed for submission to OMB under the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995. To request more information on the proposed project or to 
obtain a copy of the data collection plans and draft instruments, call 
the HRSA Reports Clearance Officer on (301) 443-1129. Comments are 
invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the 
accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed 
collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, 
and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, 
including through the use of automated collection techniques or other 
forms of information technology.

Proposed Project: Impact of Accreditation on BPHC-Supported Community 
Health Centers--NEW

    The Bureau of Primary Health Care (BPHC) has contracted with the 
Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) 
for a period of three years from 2002 to 2005 to conduct comprehensive 
evaluations for selected BPHC-supported health centers that will 
encompass both a full Joint Commission accreditation survey and a 
review of specified governmental requirements relative to the Primary 
Care Effectiveness Review. Incorporated into this contract, is a 
research study that will examine the impact of JCAHO accreditation on 
BPHC-supported health centers. The reasons for conducting this study 
are twofold. First, in a March 2000 report, the GAO recommended to HRSA 
that they determine the cost effectiveness of Joint Commission 
accreditation and its ability to improve quality and competitiveness in 
community health centers (GAO/HEHS-00-39 community health centers). 
HRSA believes that this study will build on a 2002 report by Lewin and 
Associates that examined the effectiveness of accreditation on a small 
number of health centers. Second, although considerable anecdotal 
information is available regarding changes that health centers have 
made to prepare for or maintain accreditation, this study is designed 
to provide a detailed examination of the number and type of activities 
that health centers are engaged in relative to quality of care and 
patient safety subsequent to becoming accredited.
    This study is a descriptive assessment of the impact of 
accreditation on health centers relative to changes in their approach 
to quality of care and patient safety. It will assess the impact in a 
sample of Joint Commission accredited community health centers that 
include migrant health centers, school based health centers, health 
centers for the homeless and public housing health centers. This study 
aims to address two key questions: (a) What do health centers do 
differently as a result of preparing for and maintaining accreditation? 
and (b) How has accreditation strengthened health centers' approach to 
quality, patient safety and performance improvement? The assessment 
will be conducted by administering two mailed questionnaires to a 
sample of community health centers.

                                             Estimated Burden Hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 Number of      Responses per                       Hours per      Total burden
           Survey               respondents       respondent    Total responses      response          hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Accreditation: Changes in                100                1              100              .33               33
 approach to quality and
 safety.....................
Accreditation: Perception of             100                4              400              .25              100
 Value......................
                             ------------------
      Total.................             100   ...............             500   ...............             133
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    Send comments to Susan G. Queen, Ph.D., HRSA Reports Clearance 
Officer, Room 14-45, Parklawn Building, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, 
MD 20857. Written comments should be received within 60 days of this 
notice.

    Dated: February 14, 2003.
Jane M. Harrison,
Director, Division of Policy Review and Coordination.
[FR Doc. 03-4313 Filed 2-24-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-15-U