Information Sources for Strategic Planning in Primary Care Facilities

Faye W. Gilbert, University of Southern Mississippi
Tom K. Massey Jr., University of North Texas

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to examine the extent to which health care managers presently incorporate information from physicians and consumers in their strategic plans. Further, the managers' perceptions of important sources of information for consumers are compared to the perceived degree of physician influence for health care decisions. The empirical results demonstrate that present usage of information focuses on sources relevant for current consumers while it seems to neglect information needed to plan strategies for new targets or for non-users of the facility.