Applying for a Grant - Outcome Measures

VNA Foundation requires its grants to have measurable outcomes, or objective measures of the grant's effect. By doing so, we believe we maximize the impact of our grant dollars, and are able to share with other nonprofits and foundations objective information about successful--or not so successful--approaches to assisting the medically underserved.

What do we mean by "outcome measures" in this context? Here are some examples of outcome measures used in our grants, and the baselines to which they were compared:

Examples of Outcome Measures and Related Baselines

Outcome Measure: The number of emergency room visits for children in the communities served by this program will decline by 15%.
Baseline: Last year there were 386 emergency room visits for children in the communities served by this program.

Outcome Measure: Fewer than 15% of patients per year will present to an emergency room in critical condition or worse.
Baseline: Eighty to 90% (estimated) would experience a medical emergency that would require an emergency room visit if not for the program.

Outcome Measure: Average hemoglobin level of diabetic patients will be reduced to 8.5.
Baseline: The average hemoglobin level of diabetic patients is 9.0.

Outcome Measure: Based on pre and post tests 50% of residents will demonstrate a 20% increase in knowledge about health problems common to the homeless.
Baseline: Forty percent of residents demonstrated a 20% increase in knowledge about health problems common to the homeless.

Outcome Measure: Scores on the quality of life questionnaire will be an average of 20% higher after one year.
Baseline: Will be determined by administering the quality of life questionnaire at the beginning of the program.

Outcome Measure: Ninety-five percent of perinatal patients will wait 24 months or longer before becoming pregnant again.
Baseline: Eighty-three percent of prenatal patients waited 24 months or longer before becoming pregnant again.

Outcome Measure: Eighty percent of patients will attend their 6-week postpartum clinic visit.
Baseline: Sixty-three percent of patients attend their 6-week postpartum clinic visit.

Outcome Measure: Eighty-five percent of women age 50 & over will understand the importance of having a yearly mammogram (based on test given after health education session).
Baseline: Sixty seven percent of women age 50 & over understand the importance of having a yearly mammogram.

Outcome Measure: Fewer than 10% of patients per year will sustain injury due to falls, burns, or adverse drug reaction/medication error.
Baseline: Eighty to 90% (estimated) have sustained complications from falls, burns, or adverse drug reaction/medication error before enrolling in the program.

Outcome Measure: Ninety-seven percent of participants will follow the schedule of immunizations and well-child visits recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Baseline: Seventy nine percent of children in this County receive immunizations and well child visits according to the schedule recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

VNA Updates

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