Post graduate courses for executive health officers

Post graduate courses for executive health officers

 The health reform in Chile, begun in 2005, is based in the complete change of patterns of care, from fragmented care with loss of resources and information to a functioning network system that is functional, systemic and synergic.
In that same year,  the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Valparaiso as part of a nationwide program coordinated by the Health Ministry held a post graduate course for 32 chief health officers from one of 27 health services, the Aconcagua Health Service, located in the central valley of the country. The participants were officers from the Direction, hospitals and primary care, averaging 30% of each group.
The aim of the course was to provide the basis to incorporate successfully the health reform through the development of links among the network facilities and  strengthen the  managerial capabilities of its officers.
Teaching was through an “on the job” method, at the university and facilities that comprise the network.
The program lasted 10months and a follow up was taken at 6 and 9 months with the following results.
-         formation of a learning group
-         priorization of the network’s main problems
-         development of an intervention plan with indicators for one chosen problem
-         undertaking of the plan
-         assesment and evaluation both of the plan and of the learning process.
Conclusions:
            A University – Ministry relationship is useful for achieving better health standards through post graduate education of its chief officers.
             “On the job” method, which teaches managerial skills from problems detected at the local level is useful for the designed objectives.
            Teaching sessions held at all network facilities generate better functioning and  enable participants to get to know each other and their work places, but also the local conditions in which health care is provided.