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Question: I work for a mobile clinic that is interested in expanding its services to a new area. I have no idea where to start in this whole process. Because I am a full time MPH student and practicing Medical Fellow, time is extremely limited. Can you point me in the right direction of where to begin so that I can get the most bang for my buck? Right now I'm trying to develop a survey. Any help you could provide would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
Answer: Thank you for writing to us with your question. Here are some thoughts for your consideration: Your time is limited, which is very understandable. So it will help you to get as much help as you can from other sources. Where should that help come from? Most logically, from the people who will be served by the new clinic itself. So can you assemble a group of leaders from that new community to come and meet with you? Or can some leaders assemble other leaders? Then in a meeting, you can ask them what kinds of services they would like to see in their community. That will help your services become more responsive, and will also increase local buy-in. Then, to verify their ideas, could they help you design a survey for broader distribution in that area? You could help revise it, as needed -- or, alternatively, you could draft, and they could revise. A well-done survey can also serve the purpose of asking for volunteers, resources, other things you might need. You can accomplish many goals at the same time. This is the principle of social leverage, here well applied. For further information, you might benefit from consulting Chapters 18 and 19 of the Tool Box, on designing and starting interventions. Thank you again for contacting us, and all best wishes for a wonderful new clinic and for success in your community work.
Question Date: Fri, 03/16/2007