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Suggested Citation:"Appendix F: Committee Site Visits." Institute of Medicine. 2009. A Review of the HHS Family Planning Program: Mission, Management, and Measurement of Results. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12585.
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Suggested Citation:"Appendix F: Committee Site Visits." Institute of Medicine. 2009. A Review of the HHS Family Planning Program: Mission, Management, and Measurement of Results. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12585.
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Suggested Citation:"Appendix F: Committee Site Visits." Institute of Medicine. 2009. A Review of the HHS Family Planning Program: Mission, Management, and Measurement of Results. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12585.
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Suggested Citation:"Appendix F: Committee Site Visits." Institute of Medicine. 2009. A Review of the HHS Family Planning Program: Mission, Management, and Measurement of Results. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12585.
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Suggested Citation:"Appendix F: Committee Site Visits." Institute of Medicine. 2009. A Review of the HHS Family Planning Program: Mission, Management, and Measurement of Results. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12585.
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Suggested Citation:"Appendix F: Committee Site Visits." Institute of Medicine. 2009. A Review of the HHS Family Planning Program: Mission, Management, and Measurement of Results. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12585.
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Suggested Citation:"Appendix F: Committee Site Visits." Institute of Medicine. 2009. A Review of the HHS Family Planning Program: Mission, Management, and Measurement of Results. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12585.
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Suggested Citation:"Appendix F: Committee Site Visits." Institute of Medicine. 2009. A Review of the HHS Family Planning Program: Mission, Management, and Measurement of Results. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12585.
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Suggested Citation:"Appendix F: Committee Site Visits." Institute of Medicine. 2009. A Review of the HHS Family Planning Program: Mission, Management, and Measurement of Results. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12585.
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Suggested Citation:"Appendix F: Committee Site Visits." Institute of Medicine. 2009. A Review of the HHS Family Planning Program: Mission, Management, and Measurement of Results. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12585.
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Appendix F Committee Site Visits The committee conducted 16 site visits to Title X grantees and del- egates during April–July 2008 to gather information about the experiences of local administrators and service providers with the Title X program. Approximately 4,600 sites receive Title X funds. The sites visited were selected to reflect various geographic regions, clinic types (including health departments, community health centers, hospital and academic centers, and Planned Parenthood health centers), and patient demographics (including race and ethnicity). Sites were chosen based on convenience sampling and were not considered to be a representative sample of Title X sites. The follow­ing sites were visited: • Adagio Health Aliquippa, Aliquippa, Pennsylvania; • Charlottesville/Albemarle Health Department, Charlottesville, Virginia; • Fred Leroy Health and Wellness Center, Omaha, Nebraska; • Harbor UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, California; • La Clinica De La Raza, Oakland, California; • Midwife Center for Birth and Women’s Health, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; • Mobile County Health Department, Mobile, Alabama; • New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, New York; • Orange County Health Department, Orange, Virginia; • People’s Community Clinic, Austin, Texas; • Planned Parenthood of Middle and East Tennessee, Nashville, Tennessee; 267

268 A REVIEW OF THE HHS FAMILY PLANNING PROGRAM • Planned Parenthood of Mid-Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan; • Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin Inc., Madison, Wisconsin; • Trousdale County Health Department, Hartsville, Tennessee; • Unity Health Care, Washington, DC; and • University of Nebraska Medical Center Family Planning Clinic, Omaha, Nebraska. One or two committee members conducted each half-day visit. They followed one of several loose interview guides (see Boxes F-1 through F-4), which varied based on the type of site, to assist them in gathering information. The questions in sections I and II of the interview guides were provided to the sites for completion prior to the visits. Committee members interviewed senior administrators, Title X coordinators, and service pro- viders. The committee was interested in obtaining information about each program (including services provided, demographics of patients served and the surrounding community, and staffing), financing (for example, propor- tion of Title X versus other funding), and grantee and delegate perspectives on the Title X program. Staffing varies greatly among the sites—from 2 to 40 full-time ­employees. The percentage of the sites’ funding provided by Title X ranges from 4 per- cent to 75 percent, but is less than 15 percent for most sites. Title X funds are used for a mix of staff, services, goods, administrative costs, and facility costs. A summary of the strengths and weaknesses of the Title X program cited by interviewees is presented below, followed by a summary of the interviewees’ perceptions of the Family Planning Annual Report (FPAR) and additional findings. Strengths and weaknesses of title x In general, the interviewees emphasized that Title X is an extremely beneficial program. Most noted that Title X funds allow them to provide services they would otherwise struggle to offer, including the direct provi- sion of contraceptive methods. They appreciate that Title X funds are more flexible than many other funding sources and can be used to cover such expenses as staffing, overhead, outreach, and patient education. Interviewees also said that Title X increases access for underserved populations, includ- ing adolescents and the uninsured. Some of the administrative features and requirements of the program were also cited as strengths. For example, one interviewee noted that “the counseling requirements make the nurse ask questions she might have otherwise overlooked.” The interviewees gener- ally reported positive relationships between grantees and delegates. At the same time, interviewees had many suggestions for improv- ing the program. Several reported finding the goals and priorities of the

APPENDIX F 269 BOX F-1 Title X Site Visits to Hospital-Based Centers I. Site information (should be completed by the site prior to the visit)   1. Location (city, state)   2. Hours/days of operation   3. Geographic market (rural, urban, suburban)   4. Annual visits (number)   5. Demographics (clients served annually) a. median age and range b. % female c. average income d. race/ethnicity   6. How are patients referred to your center?   7. Highest volume (days/times)   8. Staffing a. Number of staff b. Types of staff (e.g., case manager, social worker, nurses, residents, physicians) c. Staff case load   9. Tools (electronic or otherwise) used in the work 10. Recent/current process improvement efforts/projects 11. Are there any current reports on performance, productivity, etc.? 12. Does the site work in conjunction with other clinics or other organizations that provide family planning services? II. Finances (should be completed by the site prior to the visit) 13. Income—How is your organization funded (breakdown by percentages)? a. Federal % i. Title X funds % ii. Medicaid funds % iii. MCH grants % iv. TANF % v. Social services block grants % b. State appropriations % c. Grants % d. Gifts % continued

270 A REVIEW OF THE HHS FAMILY PLANNING PROGRAM BOX F-1 Continued e. Private payer % f. Out of pocket/self-pay % g. Uncompensated care % h. Functions of staff 14. Expenses—What do Title X funds pay for? a. Budget for staff b. Budget for services (e.g., medical operations, education, outreach) c. Budget for goods (e.g., labs and associated costs, pharmaceuticals and dispensing costs) d. Administrative costs e. Facility costs (purchase/rent, maintenance) III. Site Concerns Begin by asking each interviewee: what are the two most important things you would like to share about your experiences with Title X. IV. Services 15. Range of services a. What types of services do Title X funds provide? ___ Education ___ Counseling ___ History, physical assessment, labs ___ Fertility regulation (contraception) ___ Infertility services ___ Pregnancy diagnosis and counseling ___ Adolescent services ___ GYN services ___ STD and HIV/AIDS ___  pecial counseling (future pregnancies, substance use, sexual S abuse, domestic violence) ___ Health promotion/disease prevention ___ Postpartum care ___ Other (please list) b. Who else provides these services in the community? 16. Scheduling a. How are urgent vs. emergent patients scheduled (priority matrix)? b. Appointment wait time (how many days or weeks?) 17. Quality a. Do staff follow any standing clinical protocols or care pathways? b. What quality metrics are evaluated at the site? 18. Referral and Follow-up a. Are patients classified based on any risk factors? If so, what risk factors? b. What is the mechanism for post-visit follow-up?

APPENDIX F 271 BOX F-1 Continued V. Perspectives on Title X 19. What are benefits/strengths of the Title X program? 20. What are drawbacks or weaknesses of the program? 21. What do Title X funds allow you to do that other funding sources do not? 22. What changes or improvements (administrative, service provision, etc.) would you suggest for the program? 23. How do Title X requirements (e.g., child abuse reporting) affect the provi- sion of services? 24. How do you implement the mandate to encourage parental involvement? 25. Describe hard-to-reach groups in your area and describe any efforts at outreach. 26. Describe the ease/burden of collecting information for FPAR. What ele- ments seem unnecessary? What additional elements would you include? 27. How does the administrative structure work from your perspective? What is your relationship (communication) with the grantee and/or RPC? 28. How have any funding limitations affected the number of patients served or the care that is delivered? (e.g., hours of operation, decreasing type or amount of services) 29. Have you identified/developed any best practices for service delivery or outreach? 30.  there any training or workforce issues (finding and retaining adequately Are trained staff in sufficient numbers to provide services)? 31.  you see Title X requirements as a barrier to participation for certain Do family planning providers? How? 32. How does your program intersect with the hospital’s administration? 33. Does your program coordinate with other clinics or organizations that provide family planning services? 34. Additional comments

272 A REVIEW OF THE HHS FAMILY PLANNING PROGRAM BOX F-2 Title X Site Visits to Community Clinics I. Site information (should be completed by the site prior to the visit)   1. Location (city, state)   2. Hours/days of operation   3. Geographic market (rural, urban, suburban)   4. Annual visits (number)   5. Demographics (clients served annually) a. median age and range b. % female c. average income d. race/ethnicity   6. How are patients referred to your clinic?   7. Highest volume (days/times)   8. Staffing a. Number of staff b. Types of staff (e.g., case manager, social worker, nurses, residents, physicians) c. Staff case load d. Functions of staff   9. Tools (electronic or otherwise) used in the work 10. Recent/current process improvement efforts/projects 11. Are there any current reports on performance, productivity, etc.? 12. Does the site work in conjunction with other clinics or organizations that provide family planning services? II. Finances (should be completed by the site prior to the visit) 13. Income—How is your organization funded (breakdown by percentages)? a. Federal % i. Title X funds % ii. Medicaid funds % iii. MCH grants % iv. TANF % v. Social services block grants % b. State appropriations % c. Grants % d. Gifts %

APPENDIX F 273 BOX F-2 Continued e. Private payer % f. Out of pocket/self-pay % g. Uncompensated care % 14. Expenses—What do Title X funds pay for? a. Budget for staff b. Budget for services (e.g., medical operations, education, outreach) c. Budget for goods (e.g., labs and associated costs, pharmaceuticals and dispensing costs) d. Administrative costs e. Facility costs (purchase/rent, maintenance) III. Site Concerns Begin by asking each interviewee: what are the two most important things you would like to share about your experiences with Title X. IV. Services 15. Range of services a. What types of services do Title X funds provide? ___ Education ___ Counseling ___ History, physical assessment, labs ___ Fertility regulation (contraception) ___ Infertility services ___ Pregnancy diagnosis and counseling ___ Adolescent services ___ GYN services ___ STD and HIV/AIDS ___  pecial counseling (future pregnancies, substance use, sexual S abuse, domestic violence) b. Who else provides these services in the community? 16. Scheduling a. How are urgent vs. emergent patients scheduled (priority matrix)? b. Appointment wait time (how many days or weeks?) 17. Quality a. Do staff follow any standing clinical protocols or care pathways? b. What quality metrics are evaluated at the site? 18. Referral and Follow-up a. Are patients classified based on any risk factors? If so, what risk factors? b. What is the mechanism for post-visit follow-up? continued

274 A REVIEW OF THE HHS FAMILY PLANNING PROGRAM BOX F-2 Continued V. Perspectives on Title X 19. What are benefits/strengths of the Title X program? 20. What are drawbacks or weaknesses of the program? 21. What do Title X funds allow you to do that other funding sources do not? 22. What changes or improvements (administrative, service provision, etc.) would you suggest for the program? 23. How do Title X requirements (e.g., child abuse reporting) affect the provi- sion of services? 24. How do you implement the mandate to encourage parental involvement? 25. Describe hard-to-reach groups in your area and describe any efforts at outreach. 26. Describe the ease/burden of collecting information for FPAR. What ele- ments seem unnecessary? What additional elements would you include? 27. How does the administrative structure work from your perspective? What is your relationship (communication) with the grantee and/or RPC? 28. How have any funding limitations affected the number of patients served or the care that is delivered? (e.g., hours of operation, decreasing type or amount of services) 29. Have you identified/developed any best practices for service delivery or outreach? 30.  there any training or workforce issues (finding and retaining adequately Are trained staff in sufficient numbers to provide services)? 31.  you see Title X requirements as a barrier to participation for certain Do family planning providers? How? 32. Does your clinic operate within a larger group of community centers? If so, how do you coordinate with other clinics in your area to provide reproductive health services? 33.  you work in conjunction with other organizations (other than community- Do based clinics) that provide family planning services? 34. Additional comments

APPENDIX F 275 BOX F-3 Title X Site Visits to Health Departments I. Site information (should be completed by the site prior to the visit)   1. Location (city, state)   2. Hours/days of operation   3. Geographic market (rural, urban, suburban)   4. Annual visits (number)   5. Demographics (clients served annually) a. median age and range b. % female c. average income d. race/ethnicity   6. How are patients referred to your department?   7. Highest volume (days/times)   8. Staffing a. Number of staff b.  Types of staff (e.g., case manager, social worker, nurses, residents, physicians) c. Staff case load d. Functions of staff   9. Tools (electronic or otherwise) used in the work 10. Recent/current process improvement efforts/projects 11. Are there any current reports on performance, productivity, etc.? 12. Does the site work in conjunction with other health departments or organi­ zations that provide family planning services? II. Finances (should be completed by the site prior to the visit) 13. Income—How is your organization funded (breakdown by percentages)? a. Federal % i. Title X funds % ii. Medicaid funds % iii. MCH grants % iv. TANF % v. Social services block grants % b. State appropriations % c. Grants % d. Gifts % continued

276 A REVIEW OF THE HHS FAMILY PLANNING PROGRAM BOX F-3 Continued e. Private payer % f. Out of pocket/self-pay % g. Uncompensated care % 14. Expenses—What do Title X funds pay for? a. Budget for staff b. Budget for services (e.g., medical operations, education, outreach) c. Budget for goods (e.g., labs and associated costs, pharmaceuticals and dispensing costs) d. Administrative costs e. Facility costs (purchase/rent, maintenance) III. Site Concerns Begin by asking each interviewee: what are the two most important things you would like to share about your experiences with Title X. IV. Services 15. Range of services a. What types of services do Title X funds provide? ___ Education ___ Counseling ___ History, physical assessment, labs ___ Fertility regulation (contraception) ___ Infertility services ___ Pregnancy diagnosis and counseling ___ Adolescent services ___ GYN services ___ STD and HIV/AIDS ___  pecial counseling (future pregnancies, substance use, sexual S abuse, domestic violence) ___ Health promotion/disease prevention ___ Postpartum care ___ Other (please list) b. Who else provides these services in the community? 16. Scheduling a. How are urgent vs. emergent patients scheduled (priority matrix)? b. Appointment wait time (how many days or weeks?) 17. Quality a. Do staff follow any standing clinical protocols or care pathways? b. What quality metrics are evaluated at the site? 18. Referral and Follow-up a. Are patients classified based on any risk factors? If so, what risk factors? b. What is the mechanism for post-visit follow-up?

APPENDIX F 277 BOX F-3 Continued V. Perspectives on Title X 19. What are benefits/strengths of the Title X program? 20. What are drawbacks or weaknesses of the program? 21. What do Title X funds allow you to do that other funding sources do not? 22. What changes or improvements (administrative, service provision, etc.) would you suggest for the program? 23. How do Title X requirements (e.g., child abuse reporting) affect the provi- sion of services? 24. How do you implement the mandate to encourage parental involvement? 25. Describe hard-to-reach groups in your area and describe any efforts at outreach. 26. Describe the ease/burden of collecting information for FPAR. What ele- ments seem unnecessary? What additional elements would you include? 27. How does the administrative structure work from your perspective? What is your relationship (communication) with the grantee and/or RPC? 28. How have any funding limitations affected the number of patients served or the care that is delivered? (e.g., hours of operation, decreasing type or amount of services) 29. Have you identified/developed any best practices for service delivery or outreach? 30.  there any training or workforce issues (finding and retaining adequately Are trained staff in sufficient numbers to provide services)? 31.  you see Title X requirements as a barrier to participation for certain Do family planning providers? How? 32. How do the services you provide with Title X funds fit into the public health structure in your area? Does the site work in conjunction with other health departments or organizations that provide family planning services? 33. Additional comments

278 A REVIEW OF THE HHS FAMILY PLANNING PROGRAM BOX F-4 Title X Site Visits to Planned Parenthood I. Site information (should be completed by the site prior to the visit)   1. Location (city, state)   2. Hours/days of operation   3. Geographic market (rural, urban, suburban)   4. Annual visits (number)   5. Demographics (clients served annually) a. median age and range b. % female c. average income d. race/ethnicity   6. How are patients referred to your clinic?   7. Highest volume (days/times)   8. Staffing a. Number of staff b. Types of staff (e.g., case manager, social worker, nurses, residents, physicians) c. Staff case load d. Functions of staff   9. Tools (electronic or otherwise) used in the work 10. Recent/current process improvement efforts/projects 11. Are there any current reports on performance, productivity, etc.? 12. Does the site work in conjunction with other planned parenthood clinics or other organizations that provide family planning services? II. Finances (should be completed by the site prior to the visit) 13. Income—How is your organization funded (breakdown by percentages)? a. Federal % i. Title X funds % ii. Medicaid funds % iii. MCH grants % iv. TANF % v. Social services block grants % b. State appropriations % c. Grants % d. Gifts %

APPENDIX F 279 BOX F-4 Continued e. Private payer % f. Out of pocket/self-pay % g. Uncompensated care % 14. Expenses—What do Title X funds pay for? a. Budget for staff b. Budget for services (e.g., medical operations, education, outreach) c. Budget for goods (e.g., labs and associated costs, pharmaceuticals and dispensing costs) d. Administrative costs e. Facility costs (purchase/rent, maintenance) III. Site Concerns Begin by asking each interviewee: what are the two most important things you would like to share about your experiences with Title X. IV. Services 15. Range of services a. What types of services do Title X funds provide? ___ Education ___ Counseling ___ History, physical assessment, labs ___ Fertility regulation (contraception) ___ Infertility services ___ Pregnancy diagnosis and counseling ___ Adolescent services ___ GYN services ___ STD and HIV/AIDS ___  pecial counseling (future pregnancies, substance use, sexual S abuse, domestic violence) ___ Health promotion/disease prevention ___ Postpartum care ___ Other (please list) b. Who else provides these services in the community? 16. Scheduling a. How are urgent vs. emergent patients scheduled (priority matrix)? b. Appointment wait time (how many days or weeks?) 17. Quality a. Do staff follow any standing clinical protocols or care pathways? b. What quality metrics are evaluated at the site? 18. Referral and Follow-up a. Are patients classified based on any risk factors? If so, what risk factors? b. What is the mechanism for post-visit follow-up? continued

280 A REVIEW OF THE HHS FAMILY PLANNING PROGRAM BOX F-4 Continued V. Perspectives on Title X 19. What are benefits/strengths of the Title X program? 20. What are drawbacks or weaknesses of the program? 21. What do Title X funds allow you to do that other funding sources do not? 22. What changes or improvements (administrative, service provision, etc.) would you suggest for the program? 23. How do Title X requirements (e.g., child abuse reporting) affect the provi- sion of services? 24. How do you implement the mandate to encourage parental involvement? 25. Describe hard-to-reach groups in your area and describe any efforts at outreach. 26. Describe the ease/burden of collecting information for FPAR. What ele- ments seem unnecessary? What additional elements would you include? 27. How does the administrative structure work from your perspective? What is your relationship (communication) with the grantee and/or RPC? 28. How have any funding limitations affected the number of patients served or the care that is delivered? (e.g., hours of operation, decreasing type or amount of services) 29. Have you identified/developed any best practices for service delivery or outreach? 30.  there any training or workforce issues (finding and retaining adequately Are trained staff in sufficient numbers to provide services)? 31.  you see Title X requirements as a barrier to participation for certain Do family planning providers? How? 32. How does your clinic coordinate with other Planned Parenthood clinics in your area to provide services? Do you work in conjunction with other organizations that provide family planning services? 33. Have you had any challenges with the media (related to receiving Title X or other federal funds)? 34. Additional comments

APPENDIX F 281 program to be unclear, as well as overly influenced by political factors rather than evidence-based research. By far the most commonly cited issue was that Title X has insufficient funding in general. Interviewees reported needing increased funds for contraceptives, staffing for screening for sexu- ally transmitted diseases/HIV, community education, outreach, advertising, interpretation services, and sterilization services. The increasing cost of contraceptives was cited as a particular problem for clinics in light of their already overburdened finances. Several interviewees also reported that the lack of funding necessitates low salaries, making it difficult for them to recruit and retain staff. One respondent suggested that the payment scale needs to be readjusted to impose less financial burden for clients with incomes just above the federal poverty level. Interviewees also expressed the view that the significant administra- tive burden associated with Title X participation is incommensurate with the often small percentage of their funding provided by Title X. One interviewee said the problem was underscored this year when additional funds were made available only if a clinic had an increased volume of patients. Moreover, interviewees reported having difficulty meeting Title X’s “unfunded mandates,” which they described as multiplying each year in the form of annual program priorities that require additional service compo- nents with no additional funding. Interviewees also expressed frustration with requirements to follow Title X program guidelines that are outdated and do not reflect current best practices as outlined by professional orga- nizations, such as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecolo- gists. One interviewee stated further that the guidelines do not allow for differences among individual clinics, and that the number of requirements for each visit are unrealistic based on staff-to-client ratios. Moreover, this interviewee noted that the clinic’s client volume has been increasing yearly, while its staff has been decreasing because of limited funds and despite the need to provide more services to more people. Family planning annual report While a number of interviewees cited no difficulties with the FPAR, several said it imposes an administrative burden that could potentially be alleviated. Many interviewees suggested that some aspects of the FPAR are “outdated” and do not reflect current best practices, or are framed so nar- rowly that clinics’ responses are meaningless. For example, one question asks what family planning methods patients used but does not allow multiple answers; questions about race are similarly problematic because patients often do not fit neatly into one racial category. While most believe the data collected for the FPAR to be useful, some think the collection process could be streamlined so that grantees, delegates, and the Office of Family Plan-

282 A REVIEW OF THE HHS FAMILY PLANNING PROGRAM ning would have easier access for reporting and management purposes. For example, one delegate suggested that it is unnecessary for data to be collected separately by the site and by the county, and that using the “unduplicated patients” designation does not make sense because on average Title X patients make more family planning visits than paying clients. Some respondents also noted that completing the FPAR is very labor-intensive. One delegate said it takes 2 of 14 full-time staff members a full week to complete the FPAR. Several interviewees said they did not understand why many elements of the FPAR are required, and expressed a desire to gain such an understanding and to know how OPA uses that information. The interviewees did say that electronic reporting was a significant positive change. Additional Findings Difficult-to-Reach Groups While the client population varies depending on the location of the Title X site, several interviewees reported that difficult-to-reach groups include women aged 20–40 who have no health problems, as well as older women who may think they are less fertile than they used to be and thus no longer need to worry about contraception. Another interviewee noted that the “undocumented, homeless, poor, and children in foster care are the most hard-to-reach in the neighborhood.” The gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender population was also cited as being difficult to reach. In addition, many interviewees reported having a difficult time getting males to come to their clinics, and some said they would like guidance on how to address this problem. Follow-up Care Most interviewees reported having detailed procedures for following up with clients to report laboratory results. However, they did not appear to have procedures in place for following up with patients to determine the effectiveness of the family planning services provided (e.g., the number of unplanned pregnancies, continuation of use of birth control methods, whether patients are seeing other providers if they are not being seen at the clinic). Interviewees agreed that this information would be desirable but that gathering it would take more staff time than is available. Cultural Sensitivity Several interviewees reported that, although cultural sensitivity is extremely important, it can be difficult to respect clients’ personal beliefs

APPENDIX F 283 while trying to satisfy Title X requirements. This issue was cited in rela- tion to requirements for Pap tests for women who do not wish to undergo a complete physical exam, which may include women who are virgins, as well as Muslim and Hispanic women. Language issues were also frequently discussed during the interviews. Many clinics cited difficulty with recruiting and retaining multilingual staff; this is a particular problem for small clinics that may have only a few staff members. Many respondents had one or two bi- or multilingual staff members and a phone service that provided access to an interpreter for a wider range of languages. Best Practices Best practices identified during the site visits included holding a Friday Clinic during which there are no scheduled appointments, and women with- out health insurance are welcomed; providing a warm and inviting clinic environment; offering a “Quick Start” program through which the clinic is able to provide birth control pills immediately and then arrange appoint- ments within 3 months; engaging the local community to build trust and maintaining those relationships; cross-training personnel, which allows for growth through acquisition of advanced skills; and holding events such as a fish fry and health fair in the parking lot to reach out to the community. Most committee members found that the staff at the sites they visited were really concerned about providing high-quality care to their patients, and that in general, they were meeting that goal to the extent possible in light of the barriers to care summarized above. On-site Medication Several interviewees reported that they appreciate the fact that Title X enables clinics to keep medications on site because they can start clients on contraceptives or other medications immediately. However, at least one respondent objected to the Title X requirement for dispensing since some clients would be more comfortable picking up prescriptions from a pharmacy. Scheduling Most interviewees reported that they could generally arrange appoint- ments within the 2-week period required by Title X. However, many reported that waits are significantly longer in their communities (presum- ably because of a lack of provider capacity). One respondent noted that there is usually a 6- to 8-week wait for new patient appointments and annual exams, although patients who have problems or need contraceptive

284 A REVIEW OF THE HHS FAMILY PLANNING PROGRAM refills can get an appointment for an “expedited visit” more quickly. Few interviewees provided information regarding client wait times at the clinic; however, those who did so said that patients were generally seen within about a half-hour of arriving at the clinic.

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A Review of the HHS Family Planning Program provides a broad evaluation of the Title X family planning program since its establishment in 1970. The program successfully provides family planning services to its target audience of low-income individuals, but there is room for improvement. While the program's core goals are apparent, a secondary set of changing priorities has emerged without a clear, evidence-based strategic process. Also, funding for the program has increased in actual dollars, but has not kept pace with inflation or increased costs. Several aspects of the program's structure could be improved to increase the ability of Title X to meet the needs of its target population. At the same time, the extent to which the program meets those needs cannot be assessed without a greater capacity for long-term data collection.

A Review of the HHS Family Planning Program recommends several specific steps to enhance the management and improve the quality of the program, as well as to demonstrate its direct contribution to important end results, such as reducing rates of unintended pregnancy, cervical cancer, and infertility. The book will guide the Office of Family Planning toward improving the effectiveness of the program. Other parties who will find the research and recommendations valuable include programs receiving Title X funding from the Office of Family Planning, policy makers, researchers, and professional organizations.

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