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Abstract: The Bronx Professional Standards Review Organization (BPSRO) analyzed 1979-80 ambulatory claims for South Bronx Medicaid recipients. An estimated 87 per ¢ of Medicaid eligibles were users of care with an average of 11,2 visits a year, compared to an average of 9.8 visits for the Bronx Medicaid population. Shared Health Facilities (Medicaid Mills) were the principle providers of care, Two-thirds of the costs were generated by one-fourth of the patients who made retire than 10 visits each a year. PBSRO concluded the South Bronx does not lack health care resources for the Medicaid recipient and that public policy and patients would benefit by concentrating reforms on high utilizers and provision of care for the near poor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This evaluation model describes the components used to assess the functioning of Pediatric Resource Centers which provide primary care to high risk chil dren in New York City. These centers are adminis tered by the Medical and Health Research Association of New York City and are funded by the State through the New York City Department of Health. Measure ments are made of: accessibility, availability, ac countability, productivity and patient volumes, con tinuity, coordination, and comprehensiveness. Data is collected from the PRC data reporting system, site visits, chart reviews, and fiscal reports. The findings vary considerably among the different centers with compliance to the various assessments, differing not only within a given center but between centers. In spite of some methodological limitations, it is felt that these measurements are effective in pointing out problem areas in the centers and are helpful to the funding agency in focusing on program areas in need of greater support. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The author reflects on the quality of health care services provided by health facilities in the U.S. He emphasizes the availability of multiple approaches to measure the quality of medical care. Specifically, these approaches look into the outcome, health status and the effect of the care on patients. Cited is the effort of the Health Care Services of the New York City Department of Health to determine the effective of health care provided by hospitals and other health facilities.