Resource Library

Standards-Based Management and Recognition (SBM-R): A Field Guide

JHPIEGO is pleased to announce the publication of "Standards-Based Management and Recognition-A Field Guide: A Practical Approach for Improving the Performance and Quality of Health Services" by Edgar Necochea and Débora Bossemeyer. The purpose of this field guide is to present a streamlined, step-by-step process, along with practical tools and other resources, for improving the performance and quality of health services using the Standards-Based Management and Recognition (SBM-R) approach. SBM-R involves the systematic use of performance standards as the basis for the organization and functioning of these services, and the rewarding of compliance with standards through recognition mechanisms. This field guide is designed to answer questions such as: What types of standards are really useful to local providers and managers? How can they be implemented in a practical way? How can the improvement process be supported? The guide is designed for managers and frontline providers of service delivery organizations in both the public and private sectors. It has also been developed for use by central, provincial/regional or district health managers who wish to improve the services for which they are directly responsible. Other potential users of this material include advocacy groups that represent the health interests of clients and communities, and organizations that provide technical assistance for performance and quality improvement. Training materials to accompany the field guide are available in the "Standards-Based Management and Recognition (SBM-R) Facilitator's Handbook" by Débora Bossemeyer, Edgar Necochea and Julia Bluestone. This handbook, published on CD-ROM, provides basic information and tools on how to improve the performance and quality of health services using the SBM-R approach. The handbook differs from a traditional training package in the following ways:

• It is composed of three modules, allowing facilitators flexibility in planning and implementing their programs over a period of months.
• The modules contain minimal theoretical content, and instead focus on exercises and activities that allow participants to practice applying the principles of SBM-R.
• The modules offer programmatic guidance, including practical next steps and activities to be implemented at the facility level between workshops on the modules.
• The modules provide suggestions for implementation that can be tailored to program-specific needs rather than required activities that must be followed exactly.

In addition to the modules, the CD-ROM contains sample assessment tools (for infection prevention, maternal and child health, voluntary counseling and testing for HIV, etc.) that have been used successfully in JHPIEGO programs throughout the world. For information about ordering these publications, please e-mail: orders@jhpiego.net.