The Challenges of Urban Health Services Centers

Abstract

Introduction: Urban health centers provide primary health services in cities. In recent years, comprehensive urban health services centers have undergone changes in structure, function, and area of activity; however, these changes cannot address all the problems in this area. This study endeavored to identify the challenges facing Integrated Health Services after implementing health transformation plan. Methods: In this qualitative case study, the target population was managers and staff of Kerman City comprehensive health services centers in Iran. Semi-structured interview was conducted with 8 managers and 7 staff members of Kerman comprehensive health centers. The interview guide was employed to gather information, including some general questions based on the literature review, and to clarify specific topics. The content analysis method based on Colaizzi’s seven stages of rapeseed was used to obtain data as well. Results: In this study, after analyzing the challenges of comprehensive urban health centers, four main themes of human, organizational, functional, and clients were identified. Conclusion: It is possible to offset these problems through strategies such as reforming the payment system and incentive system, expanding physical departments of the centers, reviewing programs, and effective implementation of family physician plans.

Keywords

• challenge
• qualitative research
• urban health services