archives@tulane.edu / Public health finance is still a relatively young field and, as such, many questions have yet to be asked—and answered. To date, few have examine how specific revenue streams—alone or in combination—shape local health departments’ (LHD) resources and capacity to accomplish their public health missions. Given ongoing policy conversations about financing for public health, it’s important for researchers to rigorously examine the and the potential costs and benefits associated with different revenue sources. Introduction Chapter: The central thesis for the body of work encapsulated by this dissertation is simple: where money comes from matters. This chapter critically examines published evidence and theory linking public health financing mechanisms and their interactions to LHD operations, outputs, and even outcomes. The chapter also introduces situates the specific research questions addressed in this dissertation within a broader conceptual framework. Paper 1: The first paper examines the relationship between revenue diversification and revenue volatility among Washington State LHDs. Using fixed effects linear regression models and revenue data reported during 1998-2014 by all LHDs operating in Washington State, the paper finds little evidence to suggest revenue diversification is significantly associated with revenue volatility. Paper 2: The second paper evaluates whether available revenue sources differentially effected the scope of programs provided by Washington State LHDs between 2000 and 2011. Using two measures of program scope and both linear and non-linear fixed effects panel regression models, the paper finds that only funding received from federal Medicaid was consistently and significantly associated with both measures of program scope. Paper 3: The third paper examines changes in total LHD expenditures in Washington State between 2006 and 2013 following introduction of a new state funding program to support core public health services and infrastructure. Using a pre-post design regression model to evaluate changes in LHD expenditures, the paper finds overall spending among LHDs significantly increased with receipt of the new state funds in the first years of the program. However, those increases were not sustained over the longer term Conclusion Chapter: The final chapter reviews findings from the three papers and discusses their implications for public health policy, practice, finance, and research. / 1 / Abigail Hope Viall

As características e conceitos dos sistemas complexos adaptativos (SCA) e a dinâmica de sistemas podem ser utilizados como ferramentas altamente efetivas para analisar a organização de um sistema de saúde. Várias das propriedades dos SCA são relevantes para este propósito especialmente a emergência de padrões auto-organizativos. Os objetivos são descrever os fluxos intermunicipais de gestantes para a resolução da gravidez visando compreender os fatores que influenciam estes deslocamentos considerando os recursos hierárquicos disponíveis e propor modelos explicativos da regionalização ao cuidado ligado à gravidez e ao parto e à regulação do sistema. Esta pesquisa aplicou conceitos de sistemas complexos adaptativos para estudo dos fluxos de gestantes entre municípios no sistema de atenção ao parto e puerpério na região de Ribeirão Preto- São Paulo determinando as áreas de captação de pacientes e fatores que influenciam deslocamentos. Para isto foram construídas matrizes de origem-destino das gestantes que tiveram a resolução da gravidez na área do Departamento Regional de Saúde XIII (DRS XIII) sediado em Ribeirão Preto no ano de 2012. Foram utilizadas ferramentas ligadas ao fluxo de altas disponíveis no Observatório Regional de Atenção Hospitalar, aplicando modelos de interação espacial e análise de redes para determinar a suficiência das regiões e sub-regiões para a realização dos procedimentos selecionados e explorar os fatores determinantes dos deslocamentos de pacientes. Em 2012, os hospitais de Ribeirão Preto (sede da DRS XIII) receberam 3807 internações por parto de fora do município, das quais 597 foram provenientes de 114 municípios fora da jurisdição do DRS XIII. Observou-se que 25 % das pacientes se deslocaram a outro município para a resolução da gravidez, percorrendo uma distancia média ponderada de 27 km. Os fluxos de pacientes mostram uma alta concentração em Ribeirão Preto e Sertãozinho, embora grande parte dos casos derivados não requeriam serviços de alta complexidade. O DRS XIIII é suficiente como região para a resolução destes casos e se comporta como um importador de pacientes de uma região mais ampla que compreende ao menos 60 municípios. Vários municípios do DRS XIII também têm serviços suficientes para as necessidades de sua população. O sistema de regulação do estado e do DRS XIII e as preferências dos pacientes, famílias e médicos são determinantes mais importantes dos fluxos que as distancias geográficas. A evolução da demografia e epidemiologia, da geografia política e organizacional do SUS, da oferta de serviços e os comportamentos e preferências dos agentes (usuários, médicos e outros) devem ser analisadas em conjunto como sistemas dinâmicos para compreensão dos fluxos de pacientes e assim reformular as redes de serviços para responder melhor às necessidades da assistência materna e puerperal na região coberta pelo DRS III. / The characteristics and concepts of complex adaptive systems (CAS) and system dynamics can be used as highly effective tools to analyze the organization of a health system. Several of the properties of an CAS are relevant to this purpose, especially the emergence of self-organizing patterns. Objectives: To describe the intermunicipal flows of pregnant women at the end of the pregnancy, in order to understand the factors that influence these displacements considering the available hierarchical resources and propose explanatory models of the regionalization of care related to pregnancy, delivery and regulation of the system. This research applied concepts of complex adaptive systems to study the flows of pregnant women among municipalities in the maternal care system in the Ribeirão Preto - São Paulo region, determining the catchment areas of patients and analyzing the factors that influence their displacement. For this purpose, the research gathered origin-destination matrices of the pregnant women who had the pregnancy resolution in the area of the Regional Health Department XIII (DRS XIII), based in Ribeirão Preto, for the year 2012. The tools used for these matrices were built in the discharge-flow utility available at the Hospital Regional Observatory webpage. Using spatial interaction models and network analysis it was possible to determine the sufficiency of regions and sub-regions to perform the selected procedures and to explore the determinants of patient travel. In 2012, maternity hospitals in Ribeirão Preto (headquarters of DRS XIII) received 3807 hospitalizations related to deliveries coming from outside the municipality, of which 597 came from 114 municipalities outside the jurisdiction of DRS XIII. It was observed that 25% of the patients moved to another municipality for the events related to the end of the pregnancy, traveling a weighted average distance of 27 km. Patient flows show a high concentration in Ribeirão Preto and Sertãozinho, although a majority of the derived cases did not require services of high complexity. DRS XIIII is sufficient as a region to resolve these cases and behaves as an net importer of patients from a wider region comprising at least 60 municipalities. Several municipalities of DRS XIII also have sufficient services for the needs of their population. The system of regulation of the state and DRS XIII and the preferences of patients, families and doctors are more important determinants of flows than geographical distances. The evolution of demography and epidemiology, the political and organizational geography of the SUS, the service offerings and the behaviors and preferences of the agents (users, doctors and others) should be analyzed together as dynamic systems for understanding patient flows allowing to redesign the service networks to better respond to the needs of maternal and child care in the region covered by DRS XIII.

As características e conceitos dos sistemas complexos adaptativos (SCA) e a dinâmica de sistemas podem ser utilizados como ferramentas altamente efetivas para analisar a organização de um sistema de saúde. Várias das propriedades dos SCA são relevantes para este propósito especialmente a emergência de padrões auto-organizativos. Os objetivos são descrever os fluxos intermunicipais de gestantes para a resolução da gravidez visando compreender os fatores que influenciam estes deslocamentos considerando os recursos hierárquicos disponíveis e propor modelos explicativos da regionalização ao cuidado ligado à gravidez e ao parto e à regulação do sistema. Esta pesquisa aplicou conceitos de sistemas complexos adaptativos para estudo dos fluxos de gestantes entre municípios no sistema de atenção ao parto e puerpério na região de Ribeirão Preto- São Paulo determinando as áreas de captação de pacientes e fatores que influenciam deslocamentos. Para isto foram construídas matrizes de origem-destino das gestantes que tiveram a resolução da gravidez na área do Departamento Regional de Saúde XIII (DRS XIII) sediado em Ribeirão Preto no ano de 2012. Foram utilizadas ferramentas ligadas ao fluxo de altas disponíveis no Observatório Regional de Atenção Hospitalar, aplicando modelos de interação espacial e análise de redes para determinar a suficiência das regiões e sub-regiões para a realização dos procedimentos selecionados e explorar os fatores determinantes dos deslocamentos de pacientes. Em 2012, os hospitais de Ribeirão Preto (sede da DRS XIII) receberam 3807 internações por parto de fora do município, das quais 597 foram provenientes de 114 municípios fora da jurisdição do DRS XIII. Observou-se que 25 % das pacientes se deslocaram a outro município para a resolução da gravidez, percorrendo uma distancia média ponderada de 27 km. Os fluxos de pacientes mostram uma alta concentração em Ribeirão Preto e Sertãozinho, embora grande parte dos casos derivados não requeriam serviços de alta complexidade. O DRS XIIII é suficiente como região para a resolução destes casos e se comporta como um importador de pacientes de uma região mais ampla que compreende ao menos 60 municípios. Vários municípios do DRS XIII também têm serviços suficientes para as necessidades de sua população. O sistema de regulação do estado e do DRS XIII e as preferências dos pacientes, famílias e médicos são determinantes mais importantes dos fluxos que as distancias geográficas. A evolução da demografia e epidemiologia, da geografia política e organizacional do SUS, da oferta de serviços e os comportamentos e preferências dos agentes (usuários, médicos e outros) devem ser analisadas em conjunto como sistemas dinâmicos para compreensão dos fluxos de pacientes e assim reformular as redes de serviços para responder melhor às necessidades da assistência materna e puerperal na região coberta pelo DRS III. / The characteristics and concepts of complex adaptive systems (CAS) and system dynamics can be used as highly effective tools to analyze the organization of a health system. Several of the properties of an CAS are relevant to this purpose, especially the emergence of self-organizing patterns. Objectives: To describe the intermunicipal flows of pregnant women at the end of the pregnancy, in order to understand the factors that influence these displacements considering the available hierarchical resources and propose explanatory models of the regionalization of care related to pregnancy, delivery and regulation of the system. This research applied concepts of complex adaptive systems to study the flows of pregnant women among municipalities in the maternal care system in the Ribeirão Preto - São Paulo region, determining the catchment areas of patients and analyzing the factors that influence their displacement. For this purpose, the research gathered origin-destination matrices of the pregnant women who had the pregnancy resolution in the area of the Regional Health Department XIII (DRS XIII), based in Ribeirão Preto, for the year 2012. The tools used for these matrices were built in the discharge-flow utility available at the Hospital Regional Observatory webpage. Using spatial interaction models and network analysis it was possible to determine the sufficiency of regions and sub-regions to perform the selected procedures and to explore the determinants of patient travel. In 2012, maternity hospitals in Ribeirão Preto (headquarters of DRS XIII) received 3807 hospitalizations related to deliveries coming from outside the municipality, of which 597 came from 114 municipalities outside the jurisdiction of DRS XIII. It was observed that 25% of the patients moved to another municipality for the events related to the end of the pregnancy, traveling a weighted average distance of 27 km. Patient flows show a high concentration in Ribeirão Preto and Sertãozinho, although a majority of the derived cases did not require services of high complexity. DRS XIIII is sufficient as a region to resolve these cases and behaves as an net importer of patients from a wider region comprising at least 60 municipalities. Several municipalities of DRS XIII also have sufficient services for the needs of their population. The system of regulation of the state and DRS XIII and the preferences of patients, families and doctors are more important determinants of flows than geographical distances. The evolution of demography and epidemiology, the political and organizational geography of the SUS, the service offerings and the behaviors and preferences of the agents (users, doctors and others) should be analyzed together as dynamic systems for understanding patient flows allowing to redesign the service networks to better respond to the needs of maternal and child care in the region covered by DRS XIII.

Background: Policy, systems and environmental (PSE) approaches can sustainably improve opportunities for healthy eating (HE) and active transportation (AT). PSEs require cross-sector collaboration. Adopting and implementing PSEs is complex and not well understood. Methods: First, using a national probability survey dataset of US local health departments (LHD), inclusion of HE and AT PSE strategies in local community health improvement plans (CHIPs) was examined. Next, a content analysis of current CHIP documents provided data for multilevel latent class analyses to identify classes of CHIPs based on patterns of PSE-strategy alignment with six key activities that facilitate change. Lastly, semi-structured interviews informed a qualitative exploration of early stage Complete Streets policy implementation in Worcester, Massachusetts. Results: Less than half of US LHDs reported developing a CHIP containing any HE policy (32%) or AT (46%) strategies. Two classes of CHIPs were identified: CHIPs in Class A (HE: 71%; Physical Activity (PA): 79%) simply identified a PSE solution; Class B CHIPs (HE: 29%; PA 21%) mostly included PSE strategies that comprehensively addressed multiple key activities. Six themes emerged as factors for early Complete Streets implementation. Conclusions: This mixed methods study provides a novel understanding of the status, development and implementation of PSE strategies in relation to collaborative strategic health improvement planning efforts. CHIPs are underutilized to promote PSE strategies and few CHIPs in our study developed strategies that comprehensively address the process of PSE-change. Among other factors, CHIPs may provide a guiding structure for policy adoption and implementation.