The low survey return rates make the validity of the survey data suspect. Also, it is evident that the clinics that returned the survey believed both reports were unclear in some areas. Further investigation is needed to determine where the reports can be improved, and better return rates are needed to improve statistical validity. It is encouraging that most clinics that returned the survey found the ACE program useful. In the current healthcare market, the shift toward ambulatory care is evident.
Clinic care is a significant portion of ambulatory care.
The ACE program is an ongoing collaborative effort aimed at evaluating the quality of clinic systems and providing specialty-specific benchmark data. Although initially slow and sometimes tedious and contentious, the development-implementation process itself established communication among providers, clinics, and health plans within Allina Health System. Special thanks are extended to Dr Stuart R. Lancer and Ms Judy Drake for their editorial assistance. National health care spending in 1991. Sonnefeld ST, Waldo DR, Lemieux JA, et al.